Former Toronto Raptors NBA Champ Retires From Basketball

Former NBA Champion and Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol has officially announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 39. He posted his own farewell video to social media.

- Final d’un capítol. Gràcies
- End of a chapter. Thank you
- Final de un capítulo. Gracias pic.twitter.com/p6qeigl4BE
— Marc Gasol (@MarcGasol) January 31, 2024

Gasol spent the first 11 years of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he earned three All-Star berths, two All-NBA selections, and the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013.

From there he was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2019 where he was a transformational piece in the pivot, and helped launch the team to the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the NBA's best. Later that summer, he won his second World Cup Gold Medal with Spain. The big man also won two silver medals at the Olympics with his country's national team in 2008 and 2012.

He finished his career in the NBA with a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, the same team that his brother Pau won a pair of NBA championships with.

In 13 NBA seasons, Marc Gasol averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists, as his playmaking acumen from the high post was one of his strongest suits in addition to his defense.

But perhaps the most lasting memory of his time in North America was the vision of him celebrating the Raptors championship with a few million of his friends at the parade through the streets of Toronto: