Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

M. Gasol on verge of pairing WCup, NBA titles

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Friday, 13 September 2019 06:39

BEIJING -- After a clutch performance Friday, Marc Gasol has a chance to pull off the rare double of winning an NBA championship and a FIBA World Cup title in the same summer.

Gasol scored 33 points and made four crucial free throws in Spain's 95-88 double-overtime victory over Australia in the semifinals. Gasol earned a ring with the Toronto Raptors in June; he would add a FIBA gold medal with a victory Sunday over Argentina.

That last player to earn NBA and FIBA titles in the same summer was Lamar Odom in 2010, when he won with the Los Angeles Lakers and was a part of Team USA's victory in the World Championships in Turkey.

"I don't want to lose a second to think what it would mean," Gasol said. "You look at the big picture. I'm very fortunate I committed to the national team this summer."

Gasol only took about a week off after the Raptors' title before starting preparations with Team Spain. While many of his NBA peers elected to skip the World Cup, Gasol said he felt a commitment to set an example to younger Spanish players.

"It's so worth it and not just because we're playing in the title game," Gasol said. "It's the responsibility of passing along the commitment and the loyalty to the team. Those values that we were taught so many years, now it is our turn to pass on the legacy to the next generation. That's not talent, that's just commitment."

Gasol was a 21-year-old role player in 2006 when Spain won its last world title. Now he is a team leader who has carried the Spanish to the brink of redemption after they were upset and didn't medal in the 2014 World Cup in their home country.

"When you come to national team for 8-10 weeks in the summer, it's not very practical," Gasol said. "You don't get to work on your game, you don't get to recover, you don't get to work on your body like you would if you had 20 weeks off. You're committing a lot of time to your teammates and it's completely worth it."

Several times during the intense victory over the Aussies, whom the Spanish beat for the bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics, Gasol had exchanges with Kobe Bryant, who was sitting courtside.

"I met Marc when Marc was really young," Bryant said. "So [to] see how far he's come as a basketball player, as a man and now as an NBA champion, I'm very happy and proud."

Read 493 times

Soccer

Source: Ancelotti, Pérez to hold Madrid exit talks

Source: Ancelotti, Pérez to hold Madrid exit talks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCarlo Ancelotti will meet with Real Madrid president Florentino Pér...

Arsenal comeback over Lyon 'unexplainable' - boss

Arsenal comeback over Lyon 'unexplainable' - boss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsArsenal reached their first Women's Champions League final in 18 ye...

Slot sings to Klopp after Liverpool clinch PL title

Slot sings to Klopp after Liverpool clinch PL title

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsArne Slot sang Jürgen Klopp's name on the pitch at Anfield as Liver...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Barnett, 2-time champion with Knicks, dies at 88

Barnett, 2-time champion with Knicks, dies at 88

EmailPrintNEW YORK - Dick Barnett, a basketball Hall of Famer who played on both New York Knicks NBA...

Officials admit error with Knicks-Pistons ending

Officials admit error with Knicks-Pistons ending

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDETROIT -- In a highly physical Game 4 between the New York Knicks...

Baseball

Gausman ejected after 53-pitch inning vs. Yanks

Gausman ejected after 53-pitch inning vs. Yanks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Kevin Gausman's frustration climbed with his pitch coun...

Dodgers' Glasnow (shoulder) exits after 1 inning

Dodgers' Glasnow (shoulder) exits after 1 inning

EmailPrintLOS ANGELES -- One month into the regular season and the Los Angeles Dodgers already have...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated