Pau Gasol’s Star Shines Bright

The NBA announced the starting line-ups for the 2015 All-Star game yesterday to much fanfare and one of the names announced was the Chicago Bulls’ own Pau Gasol. When the annual star studded affair tips off on Sunday, February 15 at Madison Square Garden, the five time All-Star Spaniard will be going mano a mano with a familiar foe – his younger brother Marc.

For the first time in NBA history, a set of brothers will face off as starters on the opposing conference teams. It marks Pau’s first time as a starter at the event and the first time he’ll be donning an Eastern All-Star jersey. In yet another milestone, Marc becomes the first ever Memphis Grizzlies’ starter on the Western Conference team. However they aren’t the first set of brothers to appear in the annual star packed game though, that honour belongs to Dick Van Arsdale and his identical twin Tom Van Arsdale who squared off in back to back appearances in 1970 and 1971.

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After becoming a leading vote getter amongst the Eastern Conference forwards since the voting opened and averaging a double double on the season (18.6 PPG and 11.5 RPG), it was widely expected that Pau would receive the starting nod and that sibling Marc (19.3 PPG and8.3 RPG) would also garner selection. During last night’s broadcast of the Bulls game versus the San Antonio Spurs, TNT sideline reporter Rachel Nichols reported (and also on her twitter) that Pau had told her that his mother Marisa had been sending him text messages for some time now requesting updates on his and his brother’s standing in the voting. When the news broke that they had both been selected, Pau sent word to his mother, this tweet speaking volumes of what the moment meant to the elated future Hall of Famer.

Pau was so happy to finally text her today that they were both in - and added "I'm so proud to be Marc's brother."
Nice.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) January 23, 2015

Post game the elder Gasol took to twitter to share his thoughts on the announcement and express his thanks to those who voted.

Unforgettable night family!! Thanks for making this incredible honor for @MarcGasol & myself a reality. #AllStar2015 #Honored #Thankful
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 23, 2015

Two of his fellow Bulls also took to social media to extend their congratulations to their teammate in their own special way.

Upon his selection, Pau becomes the eleventh player in Bulls franchise history to start in the All-Star game and depending on what transpires between now and when the coaches decide on the reserves, he may just be joined by the swagged out Butler.

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