Gasol brothers make NBA All-Star history

THE Gasol brothers of Spain will make history this weekend as they become the first brothers to be voted to start in America’s NBA All-Star game.

Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls and younger brother Marc of the Memphis Grizzlies will be jumping centre against each other for Sunday’s game at Madison Square Garden, New York. Pau will be playing for the Eastern Conference All-Star team and Marc will be representing the Western Conference.

Basketball-mad Spain will be glued to their television sets for the February 15 game as they watch history in the making.

“It’s incredibly special,” said 34-year-old Pau, from Barcelona. “It’s a huge honour, just beyond ourselves, individuals, so it’s a very exciting moment. Unforgettable, memorable, historical, you name it.”

Little brother Marc said: “I’m just really excited about the jump ball. Oh man, I can’t even imagine what it symbolises. That jump ball is going to be unique.”

The Gasols are also the first Europeans voted to start an All-Star game, highlighting the international influence now prevalent in the once all-American NBA. The Gasols have both represented Spain in basketball, ranked number two in the world behind the United States.

Both are huge sports stars in Spain, a country that takes its basketball almost as seriously as it does its football. The NBA All-Star game is an annual exhibition match where fans vote for the starting line-ups for each squad.