LeBron James had one of the best NBA seasons of all time in 2013 with the Heat. Going on a tear with his team, King James notched up every award possible but for one.
Playing for the Miami Heat, Bron dominated regular and post-season and was well on course for a clean sweep, but a Spaniard from the Grizzlies pulled the perfect carpet from under LeBron’s feet. Marc Gasol took away one piece of accolade, preventing a perfect LeBron James award sweep.
Marc Gasol once ruined LeBron James’ almost perfect season
Part of the formidable “Big Three” alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, LeBron James was the driving force behind the Miami Heat’s remarkable 27-game winning streak, the second-longest in NBA history.
Despite his stellar contributions, averaging 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game during the championship-winning season, LeBron surprisingly fell short of winning the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. The accolade went to Marc Gasol by a narrow margin, even though Gasol was part of the All-Defensive second team based on the voting system.
LeBron James had an exceptional offensive year, creating a record by scoring over 30 points and averaging 34.4 points per game in Game 7s. Statistically, the four-time NBA champion had a better defensive rating and defensive rebounds (101) per 100 possessions compared to Marc Gasol (98).
LeBron’s achievements included winning the NBA regular season MVP and Finals MVP awards, along with selections to the All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA First Team. Despite his dominance, missing out on the Defensive Player of the Year award to Gasol became a notable point in discussions comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate.
NBA fans react to Marc Gasol’s retirement
Like his elder brother, Lakers legend Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol has also officially announced his retirement. Marc Gasol won his only Championship ring with the Toronto Raptors against Steph Curry’s Dub nation in 2019. Although he didn’t win an NBA championship with the Memphis Grizzlies, Marc made his mark on the franchise during his 11 years of service. There are rumors indicating that the Grizzlies may pay tribute to Gasol by retiring his jersey No. 33 in recognition of his significant contributions to the team.
Several NBA fans have reacted on X (formerly Twitter) about his retirement. Many fans have expressed appreciation for his career, labeling him as a “legend” and highlighting his underrated contributions.
However, there are contrasting opinions, with some suggesting that Gasol’s Defensive Player of the Year award should have gone to LeBron James, and others questioning the decision to retire his jersey number. Here are some of the reactions from the NBA community:
Although there were mixed reactions, there is no denying the fact that the NBA Champion with Raptors was one of the most notable players in the NBA history.
