MEMPHIS, December 14, 2011 – The Grizzlies have re-signed center Marc Gasol to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are very happy to re-sign Marc Gasol, who has been one of the pillars of the Grizzlies franchise over his first three NBA seasons,” Wallace said. “Marc has been a true ‘Memphis basketball player’ ever since his high school days at Lausanne, and we are excited for him to continue his blossoming career in this city with the Memphis Grizzlies.”
Gasol (7-1, 265) posted 15.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.15 blocks in helping lead Memphis through a 13-game run through the 2011 NBA Playoffs, which included a first-round upset of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs and a seven-game series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 26-year-old finished second in the league in rebounds per game and third in blocks per game during the postseason.
During the 2010-11 regular season, Gasol averaged 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, a career-high 2.5 assists and 1.68 blocks in 81 games (all starts). Teaming with Zach Randolph, Gasol helped Memphis pace the NBA in points in the paint (51.5) for the second consecutive season.
The Barcelona, Spain native holds career averages of 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.44 blocks in 32.7 minutes in 232 games (225 starts) over three seasons in Memphis after his draft rights (48th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft) were acquired in a package from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for older brother Pau Gasol on Feb. 1, 2008. Memphis originally signed Marc on July 9, 2008.
Memphis’ all-time leader in field goal percentage (.545), Gasol has led the Grizzlies in field goal accuracy and blocked shots in each of his first three NBA seasons. In addition, he already ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in blocks (335, 5th), free throws made (747, 8th), offensive rebounds (563, 8th), defensive rebounds (1,251, 8th) and total rebounds (1,814, 9th).