With his former teammates Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen in attendance, with whom he made seven straight playoff appearances, Gasol gave a touching speech thanking them, the city of Memphis, and the Grizzlies organization. “Back when I was 19 years old, I used to play the game like many kids today. I used to imagine I was Michael Jordan with a fadeaway, Larry Bird with the three, or Magic Johnson with a no-look pass. And 25 years later, I imagine how Tony Allen would approach this defensive assignment against the best player on the other team and what his mindset would be. How is Z-Bo going to take over this stretch of the game and be a beast on the block, and through it all, how is Mike Conley going to keep it all together? When I was able to accomplish my biggest goal—winning an NBA ring—these three guys, who meant so much to me along the way, were right there with me. For that and many other reasons, thank you. I’ll be thankful forever, and grit and grind,” Gasol said. -via EuroHoops.net / April 7, 2024
