Fansided

There’s a mural in Memphis of Marc Gasol as a matador

By Stanford Crissey

May 3, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) reacts after a foul call during the third quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 101-86. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) reacts after a foul call during the third quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 101-86. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Someone painted Grizzlies center Marc Gasol as a matador on a wall in Memphis

“Memphis is a nice city,” local artist Kyle Taylor thought. “But you know what it needs? A mural of of Grizzlies center Marc Gasol as a matador! And I’m just the man to paint it!”

OK, so maybe that’s not exactly the way his thoughts occurred. And no, neither Taylor nor his thoughts were interviewed for this article. But it comes to the same thing: Wilson, a Memphis artist, painted a mural of Marc Gasol, dressed as a matador, on a wall in the city.

Here is the mural, in all its glory:

Big Spain indeed.

Setting aside the fact that portraying a basketball player, especially one known for his defense, as a matador isn’t the most flattering portrayal, this is amazing. The flowing red cape also lends an aura of a superhero to Gasol, which only helps.

Gasol and the Grizzlies are currently in a first-round battle with the 67-win juggernaut that is the Golden State Warriors, so they need all the city support they can get. Even when it comes in the form of a mural.

The 7’1″ Gasol has been with the Grizzlies since 2009. The younger brother of Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol is from Spain, where he was known as the “Big Burrito,” which has nothing to do with this story other than the fact that it’s amazing. Why doesn’t anyone call him that anymore?

Anyway, Gasol has become the face of the Grizzlies for many fans with his style perfectly embodying the smashmouth identity of Memphis’ team. In fact, the last time a Grizzlies team was without a Gasol brother, the franchise was still located in Vancouver.

So it’s no surprise that Gasol is the Grizzlies player being celebrated via mural. What is surprising is the depiction of Gasol as a matador. He may be the first basketball in history to be drawn, painted, or otherwise depicted as a matador. To test this theory, I ran a highly scientific study, the results of which can be viewed here:

intense research
intense research /

As you can see, no evidence was found. So kudos to Taylor for being such a trail blazer.

Taylor’s other art can be viewed here.

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