One of the NBA’s premier big men is going to be sidelined for a while. A broken foot is going to keep Marc Gasol off of the court for some time, according to The Commercial Appeal. As of right now, there is no timetable for Gasol’s return, which means that there is a distinct possibility that he doesn’t play again this season.
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The Grizzlies released a statement from general manager Chris Wallace confirming the report and giving a little more background on how it was discovered.
“This morning at Campbell Clinic, Marc underwent a thorough evaluation by team physicians. During the course of this evaluation, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a fracture in his right foot.
“Marc is a cornerstone of our franchise, and we are focused on getting him healthy. Marc will be out indefinitely and a further update will be provided after the All-Star Break.”
This diagnosis is especially ominous after Gasol said “I have some issues, but you have to push through it,” following a loss to the visiting Mavericks on Saturday.
“I’m never going to use not being 100 percent as an excuse,” Gasol continued. “It’s just not me. I’m going to push through it and give whatever I have to my team. That’s how I’ve always been, and that’s how it’s going to be.”
It goes without saying, but this is a huge loss for the Grizzlies. Gasol is among the best centers in the NBA, and it is going to be almost impossible for the team to completely replace him. Prior to his injury, Gasol was averaging 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game in 52 appearances this year. As for who will fill the void for Gasol, Memphis has a few big men on the roster already, namely Ryan Hollins and JayMichael Green.
