Marc ready for big All-Star moment with Pau

MEMPHIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup/NBA) - Making history is in the Gasol family DNA.

Brothers Pau and Marc Gasol helped Spain capture their one and only FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2006, and they were also lynchpins in the national teams that captured the country's only two EuroBasket titles in 2009 and 2011.

Now the duo is going to make its mark again.

Pau and Marc will be the first brothers to start in the same All-Star Game on Sunday in New York.

It is always special to play against my brother and it will be funny to face him for the opening tip-off. - Marc Gasol

It's going to be a huge day for the Gasol family, and Spanish basketball.

"I have been thinking about it since we knew that we had both been selected to start in the All-Star Game," Marc said to FIBA.com.

"I am sure that it will be an unforgettable moment for our family."

Marc has had a terrific campaign with the Grizzlies so his selection as a starter is no surprise.

"I am in great shape and I feel very productive every night," he said.

"I have been working a lot in the last couple of years and I feel that I can have an impact on a game in a lot of different ways, on the defensive end, which is my priority as a center, but also on the offensive end."

The 2.15m pivot has already had great seasons, including 2012-13 when he was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

This season, he has led the Grizzlies to a 39-win, 14-loss record, averaging 18.3 points per game, 8.1rpg, 3.7apg and 1.7bpg.

"I am just trying to play basketball in a simple way and also help my teammates," he said.

"I feel very comfortable playing with this team and the chemistry with my teammates is amazing."

We would have loved to win the world title at home but now we need to move on and think about the future. - Marc Gasol

The Barcelona native was eager to start this season, to get rid of the bad taste of Spain's Quarter-Final elimination at the World Cup in Madrid.

"It is one of the biggest disappointments of my career so far," he said.

"I didn't play well against France in the Quarter-Final.

The next event for Spain is September's EuroBasket 2015.

The two sides that reach the Final of the 24-team event will qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Spain are going to play in Group B, in Berlin, against Germany, Serbia, Turkey, Italy and Iceland.

"The group is tough and very competitive," Marc said.

"The goal will be to do better than in 2013 and try to win the gold medal."

EuroBasket is never an easy competition and all the teams are good. - Marc Gasol

Before that tournament, Gasol will have to weigh up his NBA options.

He will be a free agent after the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

"To be honest, my mind is now focused on the current season," he said.

"My priority is to win titles. I know that I will have to take the best decision for my family and myself.

"I am not worried, I know that I will make the right choice."

After the All-Star Game, the Grizzlies can expect a lot of hard games, especially in the post-season.

"We have been playing very well and every player has been contributing to our excellent season so far," Marc said.

"We can still improve on some aspects of our game, but Memphis is now one of the best teams in the NBA."

Pau has already captured two titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Marc wants to know what that feeling is like.

"Every NBA player dreams of winning the title," he said.

"I think that we have the potential of fighting for the ring, but we need to stay focused, play our best basketball and be healthy at the end of the regular season.

"The Western Conference is very competitive but we have been showing in the last couple of seasons that we can beat every team.

"We have been gaining a lot of experience and we will be tough to beat in the play-offs."

FIBA