Marc Gasol has been under-appreciated around the league as long as he’s been with the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s now under-appreciated for different reasons.
For years, Marc Gasol has flown under the radar. I know you’re going to ask how. Yes, he’s a three-time All-Star, a Defensive Player of the Year award winner, an All-NBA team player and a max contract guy.
However, during those years, people probably didn’t like saying he was the best center in the NBA. Once Dwight Howard was banished from this throne, many people tend to claim that some athletic, dunk-heavy centers (*cough* DeAndre Jordan *cough*) were the league’s best at the center position. Even after an All-Star year where he somehow abolished his career-high scoring average — at 32 — people believed young centers such as Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic have surpassed him.
Having such an opinion was fine, but it simply takes away from the grace and beauty of Gasol’s game. His jumpshot is beautiful; it’s even more evident as his range has expanded. His moves in the post are absolutely textbook. He passes the ball like a guard, as he’s one of the only centers that can serve as a primary playmaker. Though his attitude has been costly a few times, you have to admire his passion for the game.
As other centers dominate the public eye, Marc Gasol has quietly dominated the NBA for the past decade. His skill level has simply been under-appreciated.
Despite his brilliance though, Gasol has fallen off quite a bit this season.
Though he’s scoring 17.7 points a game — the second-highest average of his career — his shooting numbers are a career-low. He’s shooting 41.5 percent from the field, an atrocious percentage for a center. He’s also averaging more 3-point attempts this year (4.2), but he’s only hit 32.6 percent of his treys from downtown.
At this stage of his career, Gasol simply needs another star or two.
Along with his play, his off-court attitude and comments have been alarming. These two factors could tarnish his legacy in Memphis, if he isn’t moved soon.
As long as he’s in Memphis, he’ll continue to be under-appreciated in the public eye.
How his legacy could become under-appreciated
Marc Gasol has said and done many questionable things this season.
Many people associate him with the impulse firing of Dave Fizdale. Ironically, the front office fired Fizdle the day after benching Gasol in the fourth quarter of a close game. In addition, he dropped the classic “he wouldn’t have done it to Mike [Conley]” line — which automatically made him sound like a prima donna.
On the court, his body language screams “I’M SO [expletive] FRUSTRATED HERE!” He’s been better with the young players, but you can sense the frustration at times.
Yesterday, he verbally expressed his “pretty high” level of frustration. He even proceeded to say that there’s a league for developing players.
I’m going to say it: the Memphis Grizzlies need to explore trade options for Marc Gasol.
The longer he stays in Memphis, his attitude and comments like these will overshadow his legacy. He doesn’t deserve that!
His time in Memphis may be — or should be — running out, and he deserves to be on a team with a legitimate shot at winning a championship.
It would be such a shame for a player to ruin such a great legacy late in his career.
Next: Looking ahead at Mario Chalmers' role
Closing Remarks
The Memphis Grizzlies and Marc Gasol is like a teenage couple that has dated too long. They’ve been together for awhile, and things start going right. However, they insist on breaking up because of the memories the two share. Then, it’s hard to appreciate the good of the relationship, because the bad overshadows it.
That’s exactly what’s going on with the Memphis Grizzlies and Marc Gasol.
Like it or not, the NBA cycle has it where it’s the Grizzlies’ turn to rebuild. It’s okay, though. Every team has to go through it; not everyone is the San Antonio Spurs.
It’s time for the Grizzlies and Gasol to cut the tension and move their separate ways. It’s time for the organization to hit the reset button and build their next playoff core. Meanwhile, it’s time to let Marc Gasol go to a contender to get the ring he deserves.
Don’t let his bad moments of the season eclipse his greatness in Memphis.