Marc Gasol's most memorable moments ahead of Memphis Grizzlies jersey retirement

Marc Gasol is arguably the most decorated Memphis Grizzlies player in franchise history. His accolades include three All-Star games and a Defensive Player of the Year award while anchoring Memphis from 2008-19.

Over the course of those 11 seasons, rivalries and many memories were created. Off the court, Gasol was fixture in the Memphis community. On the floor, he helped the Grizzlies battle many of the best teams in the Western Conference during the “Grit and Grind” era.

The Grizzlies will honor Gasol on Saturday with a jersey retirement of his No. 33 in the FedExForum. He’ll join former teammate Zach Randolph as the only two Grizzlies players with their numbers retired.

Here are five of Gasol’s most memorable moments with the Grizzlies.

Marc Gasol vouches for Mike Conley

Remember when the Grizzlies had point guards Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry in 2007? Who could have predicted that both would still be playing major minutes on contending teams in 2024. The Grizzlies traded Lowry in his third year and Conley’s second season with the team, but Conley was actually involved in trade talks prior to that decision.

Gasol, a rookie in 2008, called former Commercial Appeal Grizzlies beat reporter Ron Tillery and told him that the Grizzlies should not trade Conley. Management wasn’t too pleased with how Gasol handled the situation, but he was right. Conley became a key cog on the Grizzlies for the next decade.

2013 Defensive Player of the Year over LeBron James

Gasol became the first Grizzlies player to win Defensive Player of the Year when he took home the award in 2013. Gasol winning the ultimate award that pretty much defined that era of Grizzlies basketball summed up his impact. Conley and Tony Allen were also named to all-defensive teams while playing with the Grizzlies, but Gasol was the only one to take home the biggest award. The win didn’t come without controversy, though. Gasol received 30 first place votes to LeBron James’ 18, so despite all the controversy, he won by a decent margin.

NBA history with Pau Gasol

Gasol had already made his first All-Star game, and his brother Pau Gasol had four previous appearances. However, none was more special than when both players were selected for the first time together in 2014-15.

Not only were both selected in the same All-Star game, but they were the first siblings to start in an All-Star game.

''Knowing that I will be facing my brother Pau for the opening tip, it will be a true accomplishment for our family and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my career,'' Marc Gasol said in a statement in 2015.

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Winning shot vs Spurs in final seconds of Game 4

The San Antonio Spurs are the main reason Memphis never won a division title until 2022 despite all of its success. Battles with the Spurs went far beyond the regular season. One of Gasol’s biggest shots with the Grizzlies came in the first round of the 2017 playoffs against the Spurs at FedExForum. The Grizzlies were down 2-1 in the series when Gasol went to his right and made a running 15-footer with 0.7 seconds left in overtime. The Spurs won the series in six games, but that shot was one of the biggest in Grizzlies franchise history.

Clippers regular season game winner

It was a regular season game in November 2016, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of Gasol’s big-time game-winning corner 3-pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers. Grizzlies and Clippers games were anything but friendly after their past playoff battles. The Clippers won in seven games in 2012, and the Grizzlies returned the favor in 2013 by winning the series in six games. Gasol made his 3-pointer against the Clippers and celebrated by doing the Conor McGregor strut. That celebration became a signature for Gasol, and it started in a road game against a Grizzlies rival.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Marc Gasol jersey retirement: Grizzlies star's most memorable moments