The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced that Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol will be one of the individuals honored as the Male Professional Athletes of the Year.
The awards will be presented at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame’s 50th Anniversary Induction Banquet on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Omni Nashville.
Gasol has played his entire eight-year NBA career (2008-16) with the Grizzlies, accumulating numerous accolades and franchise firsts. He is the first player in club history to be named to multiple All-NBA Teams (2014-15 First Team; 2012-13 Second Team) and the first to be selected First or Second Team All-NBA. He captured NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012-13.
The two-time NBA All-Star (2012, 2015) became the first player in franchise history to be named an All-Star starter in 2015 and together with his brother Pau Gasol became the first siblings to start an NBA All-Star Game as they met for the opening tip-off.