Male Professional Athlete of the Year
Marc Gasol is an eight-year veteran in the National Basketball Association with the Memphis Grizzlies. He holds career averages of 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He became the first player in franchise history to be named to multiple All-NBA Teams (2014-15 First Team; 2012-13 Second Team) and the first to be recognized as either a First Team or Second Team All-NBA selection.
Gasol was named the Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-Defensive Second Team for the 2012-13 campaign. A two-time All-Star selection (2012, 2015) and the franchise’s first player ever named an All-Star Game starter in 2015. He and his brother Pau became the first pair of brothers to start an All-Star Game as they met for the opening tip. He moved to Memphis for the first time in 2001 with his family when Pau played for the Grizzlies. Gasol spent two seasons playing for Lausanne Collegiate School before graduating and moving back to Spain, returning as a member of the Grizzlies in 2008.