MikeCheck: Gasol’s legacy on and off court culminates in Grizzlies’ No. 33 lifted to rafters
As the most decorated player in franchise history, Marc Gasol never hesitated to do whatever it took to selflessly carry the Memphis Grizzlies through their greatest era. Marc Gasol, a former Memphis Grizzlies player, has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame with his No. 33 jersey taken to the rafters. He credits his legacy to his parents' dedication to service for others and his commitment to instilling confidence in their children. Gasol's focus is on helping families with foundation work and helping them deal with mistakes and confidence they'll need. He also shares his perspective on his own life as a parent, stating that his focus is to have a positive impact on his kids and their future. Despite his obsession with basketball, Gasol says he enjoys a better sleep routine due to his lack of playing and focus on family responsibilities. He shares his thoughts on the human aspect of his basketball career, which he sees as a process to learn and learn, not the same as during the process as during wins and losses.
게시됨 : 한 달 전 ~에 의해 Memphis Grizzlies ~에 Sports
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on before a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 18, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. ( Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images )
GASOL: They obviously set an example without meaning to because that’s what they believed in. They believed in service for others, doing that for their careers as doctors and my dad as a nurse. We saw it every day. We saw the late nights that my mom wouldn’t come home because she had to go to people’s homes who couldn’t make it to the hospital. She would do that over and over. That’s just in their soul. It's something you see, and it’s not necessarily explained. Instead, you just see the example they set day in and day out.
GASOL: I like to give an opportunity if they want it bad enough and if they’re willing to do the commitment, then it’s possible. This has just been about giving them the chance and instilling the confidence necessary, right? Because we often want to do something but we can lack confidence or consistency, so we want to give a platform to families with the foundation work. That’s crucial.
GASOL: It’s the ultimate process in life to become a parent. For me, it’s a continuous test. You go through your life seeing how your parents did it, and now, you become a parent and try to have a positive impact on your kids. It changes completely your perspective. You become just like a secondary, supporting cast member. You’re not the main character anymore. It’s all about how you can help the kids deal with the mistakes they have to make through life and to meet life head on with the confidence they’ll need.
GASOL: Being (daughter) Julia’s (daughter) and (son) Luca’s dad. Just going to 9-year-old birthday parties and being with their classmates who don’t know anything about basketball. It’s a nice transition into the normal life. I enjoy sleeping much better now because I don’t play anymore. My obsession with basketball wasn’t always healthy, so I get to sleep a lot better throughout the year. Those little changes are important. I’ve enjoyed it and gave everything to it. But being able to sleep at night, waking up and taking the kids to school – all those little things that are important to me right now. It’s crucial.
GASOL: Yeah, yeah! I’m right there. But they don’t have as much homework as I used to have. The educational system has changed for the better in some things. Everything is more project-based. I help and they teach me more than I teach them. A lot of things I’ve kept at the back of the drawer now, I’m refreshing them and teaching them ways of doing things. And I enjoy that. But overall, I know that you’ll learn more from them than they’re going to learn from you. Just how you act around them is your main job at the moment.
GASOL: From a very young age, I was always the quiet kid in the back just watching and learning from him. I just gathered all the information I could without ever knowing when I was going to need it. I did that when Pau first arrived in Memphis, and I would watch Pau and Shane (Battier) interact and try to create a culture here. Memphis didn’t have an NBA basketball history or culture. So, I was seeing those two young kids come in wanting to change things, and how (coach) Hubie Brown had an impact on the team and franchise. It was a long process to change things. From there to the end of Pau’s career when he retired and transitioned into his next phase, it’s just the human aspect of it.
GASOL: You learn and see what really matters at the end is not the same as what mattered during the process. In the process, everything is wins and losses. And you have to be that way for you to be great. You have to be at a certain level of craziness. But in the end, when everything is said and done, you see it was all about human relationships and how you’re going to impact everyday life. What I saw most was how Pau cared. And at his Hall of Fame ceremony last year, I saw Dirk (Nowitzki) speak about the same things. Becky Hammon and Coach (Greg) Popovich and Dwyane Wade, they weren’t up there talking about wins and losses or all those things we care about during the journey. They spoke about relationships.
GASOL: When you look into each other’s eyes, everything goes back to our bond and who we are. It’s crazy that whenever I see Zach, Tony or Mike, there’s something in your system that just brings you back instantly to those connections. It’s truly like a family reunion because you’ve been through so much together, good and bad. The trust level connects on a much, much deeper level than some other relationships you may have. You’ve seen the true character of each other. Being truthful and honest about the work you’re putting in, that’s what we were able to do with our group of guys. We were always so honest with each other, where we were able to create a bond that will last forever.
GASOL: It’s good to see everyone does it their own way. You don’t have to do it the same way as before. I think guys have more freedom to be themselves, and they’re comfortable doing so. There are many ways to lead, and you don’t have to lead the way you were led. I like that about Jaren and this group. They have their own identity; their own personalities and they want to win that way. It’s figuring out how to put everything together and be consistent. But they have the talent. It’s great to see. They’re fun to watch. And I love seeing when (Jaren) has those nights when the stat line is filled. I can’t do anything but smile because he has a huge impact on both ends. It’s now about when we’re going to put it all together and get everybody healthy and ready. Because the potential is through the roof.
주제: Basketball, NBA, Memphis Grizzlies