Memphis Grizzlies announce date for Marc Gasol's jersey retirement later this season
The Memphis Grizzlies have announced that Marc Gasol's jersey will be retired on April 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers at FedExForum.
Gasol, who announced his official retirement on Wednesday, will be the second former Grizzlies player to have his jersey in the rafters. He joins former teammate Zach Randolph.
Gasol spent 11 NBA seasons with the Grizzlies before being traded to the Toronto Raptors and winning an NBA championship. He made three All-Star appearances in Memphis and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012-13.
It has long been expected that the Grizzlies franchise will honor the "core 4" players, a group that includes Gasol, Randolph, Tony Allen and Mike Conley, with jersey retirements. Together, the group led one of the best stretches in franchise history that included a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2013. That era of Grizzlies basketball became known as the "grit-and-grind" because of the stout defenses the team put on the floor each season.
Gasol's retirement ceremony coming against the 76ers gives his former Raptors coach Nick Nurse an opportunity to witness it. It always made sense for Gasol's retirement to come against a Nurse coached team or a squad that Conley plays with. Since the Grizzlies won't host the Timberwolves anymore this season, Nurse will get to witness the honor on that Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies announce date for Marc Gasol jersey retirement
