Pau and Marc Gasol make history at NBA All-Star Game in New York

Former Barça stars Pau and Marc Gasol made history at the NBA All-Star Game in New York on a proud night for Catalan basketball. Pau (Chicago Bulls) started for the Eastern Conference, but it was Marc (Memphis Grizzlies) and the Western Conference who ended up winning 158-163.

Madison Square Garden was the venue for a game in which the Catalan duo led their respective teams in rebounds, Pau with 12 and Marc with 10. Pau finished with 10 points and his younger brother got 6. 

It was an astoundingly high scoring game, the first half ending with the East narrowly ahead by a massive 82-83. The game was tied at 122-122 going into the final period, but MVP Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) eventually led the East to victory.

This was not the first time two brothers had appeared at the All-Star. The Van Arsdale twins played together in 1970 and 1971. But it was the first time two foreign brothers had featured.

“It was very nice, a very special moment”, said Pau Gasol after the game. "All I said to Marc was simply ‘congratulations and let’s go for the ball’. I took it, but that’s the least important thing. He won the game and that’s what matters. It’s been an emotional experience for us.”

Marc Gasol added that "most of all, I’ll remember the feeling of such a grand moment, something that will never happen again.”

Barça represented

The FC Barcelona director for basketball, Joan Bladé, attended the game in representation of the club. Before the game, he presented the brothers with a commemorative picture showing the two players in their FCB days.