Marc and Pau Gasol battled for the first brotherly All-Star tip-off
Marc and Pau Gasol made history on Sunday night at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game in New York City by engaging in the event’s first-ever brother-on-brother opening tip. The Gasols won headlines in late January by becoming the first brothers to be voted as starters in the All-Star Game. While it was not confirmed that they would face each other on the tip, head coaches Steve Kerr of the West and Mike Budenholzer of the East ensured that they would be able to share the special moment at Madison Square Garden.
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Take a look at the historic tip, won by Pau, here:
Big brothers usually find a way to beat little brothers, even at the highest level of the sport.
The two also had the opportunity to share a hug during pregame player introductions:
Marc and Pau are not the first brothers to participate or play against each other in the same All-Star Game — that honor belongs to Tom Van Arsdale of the Cincinnati Royals and Dick Van Arsdale of the Phoenix Suns, who faced each other in the 1970 and 1971 versions of the event. However, both served as reserves in both contests.
The tip served as a meaingful accomplishment for two players who have stepped up their games this season. Marc has led the Memphis Grizzlies to the third-best record in the NBA and ranks as one of the league’s top MVP candidates at this juncture. Meanwhile, Pau has starred in his first season with the Chicago Bulls, making his first All-Star Game since 2011. He has found new life after a frustrating finish to his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
