ESP - Marc Gasol: "Competing at home will be amazing"

MEMPHIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - In every conversation about Spain's men's national team's success, the name 'Gasol' likely is the first word that comes to the mind. Having led his country to two European titles, the 2006 FIBA World Championship and a pair of Olympic silver medals, Pau Gasol is arguably the best Spanish player ever.

But he is not the only member of his family who has greatly contributed to 'La Roja' being considered the second best team in the world behind the USA.

His younger brother and Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol is also one of the most important players of the national team.

The 29-year-old is coming off a very solid NBA season, having averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.

Considered one of the most efficient centers, Marc - who in 2013 became the first European player ever named the NBA's Best Defensive Player of the Year - has played his role in Spain's title runs at the 2009 and 2011 editions of EuroBasket and silver medals at the 2008 Beiing and 2012 London Olympics.

Marc now wants to help his country add another world title to the one claimed in Saitama eight years ago. He will get the opportunity to do so at this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup on home soil, where he is expected to line up alongside Pau.

FIBA.com caught up with Gasol to reflect on his club season and look ahead to Spain 2014.

FIBA: You had a great year even though you missed more than 20 games through injury. What are your thoughts as you look back on it?
Gasol: It has been a long season, but I think that I have had an interesting one, even if my knee injury bothered me for some weeks. I had to adapt my moves as my knee wasn't allowing me to do everything I wanted to, but I tried my best every night in order to help my team win games. I never had to deal with this kind of injury and I learned a lot from being sidelined for some weeks. I am feeling better now and I hope that I will never have to deal with a knee injury again.

FIBA: What do you make of the team's season and then losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs?
Gasol: It was a bit frustrating as we lost the series in Game 7. We played very well during most of the games and we gave a hard time to the Thunder. Regarding the regular season, I think that the team has done well as we won at least 50 games for the third year in a row. I am proud to say that the Memphis Grizzlies is a solid team in a very competitive Western Conference. We need to keep working as hard as we have been doing in the last few years.

FIBA: The FIBA Basketball World Cup is three months away. What do you expect from getting to play that competition on home soil?
Gasol: Competing at home will be amazing. There is nothing better than playing in front of your fans, your family and having the whole country behind you. We want to have a great campaign and everybody is looking forward to the competition. The team is going to play hard in order to bring joy to our fans. I am sure that we are going to have a very competitive roster. Spain has so many good players and above all, everybody seems to be very healthy.

FIBA: Many will be hoping for a Final between the USA and Spain.
Gasol: Before thinking about the Final, we first need to focus on the training camp. It is going to be very important to have great practices and work on our tactics in order to be very competitive right from the start of the tournament. I know that a lot of people are expecting a Final between the USA and Spain and I have to say that it would be a great game. Winning the world title at home against the best team and the reigning champions would be a dream come true.

FIBA:  How excited are you ahead of this summer?
Gasol: I am really looking forward to the competition and can't wait to start training camp with my teammates.

FIBA