This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
Beijing, China - Marc Gasol, the 34-year-old Spanish centre, is on the verge of achieving a rare feat in basketball history. If Spain wins the Basketball World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, Gasol will join an elite group of players who have won both the NBA championship and the World Cup in the same year.
Only Lamar Odom, who won the double in 2010 with the United States and the Los Angeles Lakers, has achieved this feat, according to Fiba, the governing body of basketball.
Gasol, a three-time NBA All-Star, played a key role in the Toronto Raptors' run to the NBA title and has now led Spain to the World Cup final. In Friday's double overtime victory over Australia, Gasol scored 33 points, grabbed six rebounds, and provided four assists, saving Spain from defeat.
Gasol, who also lifted the world crown with Spain in 2006, said he is less interested in his personal landmark and more motivated by what it means for his country. "I just cherish every moment for what it is," he told Fiba. "I don't try to double up. I want to give the maximum for every occasion. It is two completely different situations. I'm going to give my best to win a World Cup for Spain."
Gasol admitted that playing matches every other day in China soon after a long NBA season was tough. "I knew that committing to the national team this summer would not be easy physically because we were so lucky to stretch our (NBA) season and get away with a championship," he said. "But it's completely worth it."
Argentina, led by 39-year-old talisman Luis Scola, will be looking to win their first World Cup title since 1950. Scola finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists in their semi-final victory over France.
