Marc Gasol to leave for NBA

Marc (right) is going to face his brother Paul in the NBA (Photo credit: FIBA)Photo Gallery>>Marc Gasol expects to be an NBA player once his Olympic campaign in China is over with Spain.

The most valuable player of the ACB this season, Gasol called a press conference on Monday in Girona and announced he was leaving for the world's most glamorous league.

The Memphis Grizzlies own his rights after acquiring them in the trade that sent Gasol's brother, Pau, to the Los Angeles Lakers in mid-season.

"I have called this press conference to announce my decision to leave for the NBA," Gasol said to the assembled media.

"To all those teams that have made me an offer for next season, if I have hindered them by my decision, I'm sorry.

"The decision to go to the NBA I only took it this weekend and it's a case of finding a new motivation in a new place."

When asked if he expected to play for the Grizzlies, the club of his brother for so many years, Gasol said: "It doesn't depend on me but on Memphis. If there are changes (a trade to another franchise), I will have to accept them."

Pau Gasol has given Marc a lot of advice in recent times, with the most valuable being to leave Barcelona a couple of seasons ago for Akasvayu Girona following the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

The younger Gasol was receiving very little playing time under then Barca boss Dusko Ivanovic.

Gasol played under Svetislav Pesic in his first season at Akasvayu and won the EuroCup, while this year he was the club's top player, helping them reach the ULEB Cup final and the ACB play-offs.

Barcelona were among the clubs hoping to sign Gasol this summer.

"Pau has helped me reflect on the possibility of going to the NBA, although this decision I could only make," Marc Gasol said.

The number of Spanish to have played in the NBA will now grow to nine, with fellow Spain international Rudy Fernandez having announced recently that he was crossing the Atlantic to play for the Portland Trail Blazers.

(Credit: FIBA. Click here for further information.)