Marc Gasol: “If playing basketball makes Ricky happy, let him come back tomorrow”

Marc, how many times have you dreamed of this moment of saying goodbye in public?

To tell the truth, not much because I’m not a very outgoing guy and people like me might not be excited, but the main reason was that I wanted to thank people for all their support and those who accompanied me. who has taught me and also supported me all these years.

What future plans do you have after saying goodbye as an actor?

I look forward to accepting other challenges and trying my best in another phase of my life. Of course, I will not rush, I will be calm, I will enjoy the wonderful family I have, this is my first goal.

You are a very familiar man, you always showed it…

Yes, but most of the time I could not devote the necessary time due to my professional career, and now I want to enjoy it, be close to my daughters, my wife, be able to go to dinner quietly and live more every day. I haven’t been there for years.

Overcoming difficulties is my success

Does your happiness always come from the fact that you recognize yourself as Marc without even looking around you, even through the headlines?

The player may have to overcome many challenges on a daily basis and sometimes it makes you doubt yourself, your ability and doubt whether you can overcome the challenge presented to you. My luck was that I had people around me who helped me get through it all, who enjoyed it AND who suffered from it.

What will bring you joy when you are no longer on the field?

I really enjoy it when I see children playing. My approach stops being so competitive and I focus on other aspects that fulfill me as well. Once you realize the competitive fire has faded, you realize you need another approach.

Did you start to lose that passion during your time with the Lakers?

In the NBA, no doubt. This was a complicated, two-year phase of the pandemic for everyone. Living in the United States with your family in Barcelona, ​​of course, made you have different priorities, and basketball started to fade a bit. Also, as a 36-year-old player, my talent is no longer the same and in a new team, maybe I didn’t have the identity I had before.

What a brutal leap from Lakers to Basquet Girona…

Yes, quite a lot (laughs) I decided to go back and asked myself the question: What happens now? Bàsquet Girona was not doing very well at that time, we decided to play in the lower part of LEB Oro and help my teammates understand basketball in a different way, competing every day in training, but always competing with more presidents. As an actor, this was kind of my idea.

I’m proud of Ricky’s sincerity

Marc, after Ricky’s experience, is it difficult to stay mentally strong in the face of the demands of daily life?

Yes, but I’m very happy that Ricky faces problems differently than maybe another generation, wanting to overcome this challenge by going through the wall without having to break the wall. It is much wiser to recognize your need and then stop and face it. I was so happy that Ricky took this step and faced his situation so naturally.

If Ricky is happy, do you think he will go back to being the competitive player he always was?

Let him be happy, the rest is far from me. Let him do what makes him truly happy and let him come back if playing basketball means making him happy.

Are you a thorn in your side as a Barça player due to your lack of sporting interest?

In my first phase in ACB, I had the opportunity to play without standing out too much. When I had the option to return after the NBA, of course Barça was a great option, but I am not ready to manage such a moment. I believed that the daily life and peace of mind that a competition like LEB Oro, where you travel every 15 days, gave me was more realistic than the requirements of a Euroleague team from the NBA. And there are an incredible number of matches in the Euroleague. I decided to do it another way.

Does Pesic have a special place among the coaches you have recruited?

It definitely made me look at things differently and it will always have a special place in my heart. However, I can say the same for coaches in the national team such as Pedro Martínez or Sergio Scariolo. They are very special people.

If there is a moment in my career that will bring me extreme happiness, it is the NBA ring, but if I have to choose, it is when we managed to get promoted to the ACB with Bàsquet Girona.

One of the most special moments of your career?

The most logical thing would be to say an NBA championship ring, which is undoubtedly a special moment because you have to beat the best opponent in the other conference up to four times. But if there was ever a moment that gave me extreme happiness, it was when we managed to gain promotion to the ACB with Bàsquet Girona.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I’m telling you I wouldn’t change a second of my career. If you make mistakes (like I did), you learn from them and move forward. The truth is that I feel lucky for my career and the people who accompany me.”

When did you realize your acting career was over?

Last year it was very difficult for me to finish the season and after the last match against Baskonia I had the impression that this could be the last, although some time passes the physical problems disappear and the bug returns. Even though you have to accept the ending naturally, it develops against your will and turns into a wild fight.

Are you in more pain on the Fontajau course than on the track?

You are suffering a lot, although in a different way.

When the results did not come, did you consider playing for Bàsquet Girona again?

Surely there’s a part of your mind that says I could help you, but that help wouldn’t be good for anyone, not the kids, not the club, not me, not me personally. So we decided to change some things in the children’s daily life, change the coach, change the sporting director in the middle of the season, who is never nice and does nothing, and look forward.

Will we see you pioneering new projects?

Of course, now I will have more time to organize myself and collaborate with the Gasol Foundation and other foundations; All of these things excite me, ultimately what drives you is doing things with enthusiasm and now, fortunately, getting your act together. a bit more time.