Marc Gasol announced this Wednesday his definitive retirement as a professional player, something that he acknowledged was not easy for him, although he was aware that it was time to announce it, and move on with his life where he has many blank pages to write.
Marc, how many times have you imagined this moment of saying goodbye in public?
Well, to tell you the truth, not too many because I’m not a very outgoing guy and people like me may not be excited, but the main reason is that I wanted to thank people for all their support and those who have accompanied me for so many years. years, who has taught me, who has also supported me.
What plans do you have ahead after saying goodbye as a player?
Looking forward to accepting other challenges, in another stage of my life and trying to do my best. Of course I’m going to take my time, I’m going to be calm, enjoy the magnificent family I have, that is my first goal.
You are a very familiar guy, you have always shown that…
Yes, but on many occasions due to my professional career, I have not spent the time required and now I want to enjoy it, be close to my daughters, my wife, be able to go to dinner quietly and live more day to day where I have not been able to be. in many years.
Overcoming challenges, my success
Does your happiness always seem to have come more from recognizing yourself as Marc, without looking around, even above the titles?
It may be, the player has to overcome many challenges on a daily basis, and there are times when they make you doubt yourself, your ability, and you doubt if you will be able to overcome the challenge that is presented to you. The luck I have had is to have people around me who have helped me overcome all those challenges, who have enjoyed it, AND who have suffered it.
And what is going to make you enjoy when you are no longer on the court?
Well, I really enjoy children when I see them play. My approach stops being so competitive and I put the focus on other aspects, which also satisfy me. After realizing that the flame of competitiveness was disappearing, you realize that you need another approach.
Did you start to lose that passion during your time with the Lakers?
In the NBA, without a doubt. It was a two-year stage in the pandemic, complicated for everyone. Living in the United States with your parents in Barcelona obviously made you have different priorities and basketball began to fade a bit. Also my ability as a player at 36 years old is no longer the same, and in a new franchise, perhaps I did not have the same identity that I had had before.
What a brutal jump from the Lakers to Básquet Girona…
Yes, quite a bit (laughs) So I decide to come back and the question I ask myself is, what now? Bàsquet Girona was not going very well at that time, in the lower part of the LEB Oro and I decided to play and try to help my teammates understand basketball in a different way, to compete every day in training, but always from a more president than as a player, that was a bit my idea.
Proud of Ricky’s sincerity
Marc, after Ricky’s experience, is it difficult to stay mentally strong in the demands of everyday life?
Yes, but I am very happy that Ricky faces problems in a different way than perhaps another generation did, of wanting to overcome the challenge through the wall and not have to break the wall. It is much smarter to realize the need for it and then stop and feel better to face it. I am very happy that Ricky took that step and dealt with his situation in a very natural way.
Do you think that if Ricky is happy he will return to being the competitive player he always was?
Let him be happy, the rest is very far away for me. Let him do what really makes him happy and if playing basketball means making him happy, let him come back.
Do you have the thorn in your side due to your lack of sporting relevance as a Barça player?
I had the opportunity to play in my first stage in ACB without much prominence. After the NBA, when I have the option to return, obviously, Barça was a great option, but I am not prepared to lead a moment like this. I believed that the day-to-day life and the peace of mind that a competition like the LEB Oro that you travel every 15 days gave me was more realistic than a requirement of a Euroleague team that already came from the NBA. And the Euroleague has an incredible number of games. I decided to do it another way.
Does Pesic occupy a special place among the coaches you have had?
It certainly helped me see some things differently and will always have a special place for me. Although I can say the same about technicians like Pedro Martínez or Sergio Scariolo in the national team. Very special people.
If a moment of extreme happiness comes to me in my career, the NBA ring was it, but if I have to choose, it is when we achieved promotion to ACB with Bàsquet Girona.
One of the most special moments of your career?
The most logical thing is that he said the NBA championship ring, which is undoubtedly a special moment, because you have to beat the best rival from the other conference up to four times. But if a moment of extreme happiness comes to me, it is when we achieved promotion to ACB with Bàsquet Girona.
Anything you would have done differently?
Well, I’m telling you that I wouldn’t change a second of my career. If you make mistakes, which I did, you learn from them and look forward. The truth is that I feel lucky for my career and for the people who have accompanied me”
When did you realize that your playing career was coming to an end?
Last year it was very difficult for me to finish the season and after the last game against Baskonia, I already had the impression that it could be the last, although you let a little time pass, the physical problems fade and the bug returns. Although you have to accept the ending naturally, it goes against your wishes and turns into a beastly fight.
Does he suffer more in the Fontajau box than on the track?
You suffer a lot although in a different way.
Did it cross your mind to play for Bàsquet Girona again when the results didn’t start coming in?
Without a doubt, there is a part of your head that tells you that I can help, but that help would not have been good for anyone, not for the boys, not for the club, not for me, not even as a person. So we decided to change some things in the boys’ daily life, change the coach, change the sports director, who is never pleasant in the middle of the season and nothing, look forward.
Will we see you leading new projects?
Surely now I will have more time to organize myself, to collaborate with the Gasol Foundation and with other foundations, all the ones that make me excited that in the end it is what moves you, to do things with enthusiasm and now, fortunately, with a little more time.
2024-02-02 10:54:34
#Marc #Gasol #playing #basketball #Ricky #happy #tomorrow
