Marc Gasol Toronto Raptors
Photo: Toronto Raptors

Marc Gasol said he was not initially willing to leave the Memphis Grizzlies and join the Toronto Raptors.

Here is what the 2019 NBA Champion with the Raptors told reporters in the Antiga Fabrica Estrella Damm in Barcelona, per the Europa Press news agency.

On his trade to Toronto: “There have been few players that haven’t been traded over the years in the NBA. If it had depended on me, I wouldn’t have been traded.

I always thought I could reverse the situation there [in Memphis] and bring the team to the top. But, thank God, they ignored me.”

On Nikola Mirotic signing with Barcelona: “I’m not surprised. At the beginning I was, but whoever chooses to return to Europe while he can get a good contract on important teams in the NBA makes a brave decision.

His last year was difficult with trades, the birth of a child… you are looking for some stability because being a player is important but also to be a person.”