Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was named to the All-NBA First Team for the 2014-15 season, the league announced today. This marks the second All-NBA selection of Gasol’s career (Second Team in 2012-13), and he is the first player in franchise history to be recognized on the All-NBA First Team.
This adds to the list of accolades and “firsts” Gasol has garnered over his first seven years with the Grizzlies organization. In addition to being the first player in franchise history to be named to the All-NBA First Team and the first to be named an NBA All-Star starter this season, Gasol also became the first Grizzlies player ever to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2012-13) and selected to the All-NBA Second Team. He is the only player in club history to be named to multiple All-NBA Teams.
Gasol (7-1, 255) posted 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.62 blocks in 33.2 minutes in 81 games (all starts), setting career highs for total points (1,413), scoring average, field goals made (530) and attempted (1,072), free throws made (350) and attempted (440) and defensive rebounds. He paced the Grizzlies in total points, scoring average, total blocks (131) and blocks per game, the seventh consecutive season he has led the team in the latter two categories.
The seven-year veteran scored 30-or-more points five times, including a career-high 33 points in the regular season finale on April 15 vs. Indiana, after doing so just once in his first six NBA seasons. Gasol continued to display his all-around versatility and was the only player in the league with at least 1,300 points, 600 rebounds and 300 assists.
Gasol was rewarded for his career year by being voted by the fans into the Western Conference starting lineup for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, his second career All-Star appearance (2011-12). Gasol faced off with older brother Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls in the opening tip, becoming the first brothers ever to start an NBA All-Star Game and the second pair of brothers to ever play in the same All-Star Game, (Tom and Dick Van Arsdale in 1970 and 1971). Marc grabbed 10 rebounds to help guide the West to a 163-158 win.
As a result of Gasol’s leadership, Memphis recorded a 55-27 regular season record, the team’s third consecutive 50-win campaign, and advanced to the NBA Playoffs for a fifth straight year. Gasol averaged 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.73 blocks in 11 postseason games while shooting .852 from the free throw line in guiding Memphis to the Western Conference Semifinals for the third time in franchise history. The 30-year-old became the first player since Larry Bird in 1983-84 to average at least 10 rebounds, four assists and one block per game while shooting better than 85 percent from the foul line during a single postseason.
The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.
Below are the results of the voting for the 2014-15 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.
2014-15 All-NBA First Team
2014-15 All-NBA Second Team
2014-15 All-NBA Third Team
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 155; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 70; Al Horford, Atlanta, 64 (1); John Wall, Washington, 50; Jimmy Butler, Chicago, 32; Damian Lillard, Portland, 22; Draymond Green, Golden State, 9; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 7; Jeff Teague, Atlanta, 7; Andrew Bogut, Golden State, 6; Nikola Vucevic, Orlando, 6; DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 3; Rudy Gay, Sacramento, 3; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 2; Gordon Hayward, Utah, 2; Kyle Korver, Atlanta, 2; Joakim Noah, Chicago, 2; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 2; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 2; Carmelo Anthony, New York, 1; Tyson Chandler, Dallas, 1; Mike Conley, Memphis, 1; Brook Lopez, Brooklyn, 1; Kevin Love, Cleveland, 1; Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 1; Khris Middleton, Milwaukee, 1.