Memphis Grizzlies: How Does NBA Finals Appearance Enhance Marc Gasol’s Hall-of-Fame Probability?

Now an Eastern Conference champion, how would winning a title as a result of the NBA Finals add to Marc Gasol’s already impressive basketball career?

There is no doubt that Marc Gasol is one of the best centers in the league, even at age 34. Fans of the Memphis Grizzlies especially know this due to his all-around skill set on both ends of the floor. He is a precise shooter, has a high basketball IQ when it comes to making the right play, and he has been one of the league’s top defenders for most of his career. Now, he enters the NBA Finals for the first time.

Since February’s NBA Trade Deadline, where the Memphis Grizzlies dealt Marc to the Toronto Raptors, the Raptors have been plus-14 when Gasol is on the court. He has been a crucial part of this playoff series despite his offensive struggles, and is now an Eastern Conference champion because of it. His defense has been tremendous, and is a large reason why the Raptors overcame an 0-2 deficit to take the series by a 4-2 advantage.

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As Marc Gasol prepares for the NBA Finals and is determined to become an NBA World Champion, how can Big Spain add to his professional résumé? Is this a prime opportunity to greatly enhance his odds of earning a spot in the Hall-of-Fame?

Over the years, many have speculated that the only Gasol brother worthy of a Hall-of-Fame spot is Pau Gasol. When comparing the Gasol brothers, there is not a huge difference between the two’s respective careers.

Yes, Pau has more EuroLeague accomplishments, but his big push is that he won two titles with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently, Basketball-Reference provides Marc Gasol with a 1.5% chance of landing in the Hall-of-Fame in comparison to Pau Gasol with a 93.3% chance. With this being said, allow Beale Street Bears to look back on some of Marc’s highlight accomplishments over his 11-season NBA career, including his time overseas while representing his home country of Spain.

Marc Gasol has pieced together a remarkable résumé and nearly all of it has taken place while representing the Memphis Grizzlies in world class fashion. It expands beyond his contributions in the NBA, too. His most notable accomplishments include the following: 

• 3-Time NBA All-Star
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year
• All-NBA First Team
• All-NBA Second Team
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team
• Spanish League Champion
• Spanish League MVP
• All-Spanish League Team
• Euroscar Player of the Year

Imagine adding NBA World Champion to this list. That is the last big step that Marc Gasol really needs. This is the time to do it, especially with the opportunity of such a historic championship with the Toronto Raptors as it would be the first in their franchise’s history.

This NBA Finals matchup against the Golden State Warriors could be Marc’s time to shine and break out to become that next-level name. That key moment. That championship status.

These next four to seven playoff games could be the determining factor for Marc Gasol as he not only makes a title run, but a Hall-of-Fame run as well. It takes the right team, in the right situation, with the right players, to etch your name into basketball history.