Marc Gasol remains clueless about whether he’ll finally hang his jersey and basketball sneakers for good or not.
In a recent appearance on Catalunya Radio, Gasol admitted that he has been in deep contemplation about hitting retirement given his unwavering passion to continue playing the game.
“I had assumed (that I would retire) but it is costing more than I anticipated. When I finished in June I thought my purpose as a player had passed. Now I am digesting it: I like basketball a lot. Saying goodbye is not so simple,” he said.
Gasol just ended his second year playing for Bàsquet Girona, a professional club in Liga ACB that he founded in 2014. The Spanish big averaged 10.5 points, 5.7 boards, and 2.8 assists in 30 games of play, but Girona failed to advance to the 2022-23 playoffs after finishing at the 15th spot in the league standings with an 11-23 record.
Given the solid numbers he registered from the previous season, it appears that the 38-year-old remains in his prime to play for more. As such, it all boils down to what his guts and body are telling him to decide about his future play.
Should he eventually declare retirement, Gasol will leave the game as an undisputed Spanish hoops great. The center anchored Spain to plenty of international success: two World Cup top finishes in 2006 and 2019 and a Silver medal podium for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Gasol also boasts an NBA championship in the 2018-19 campaign with three All-Star selections, two All-NBA selections, and an NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. These honors certainly enhance his chance to become a Basketball Hall of Famer in the near future.
