Gasol makes home debut

If Marc Gasol had any lingering sadness about leaving the only NBA team he’d ever known, Toronto’s fans made the newcomer feel welcome on Monday.

The player affectionately known as “Big Spain” received a standing ovation at Scotiabank Arena when he entered the Raptors’ game against the visiting Brooklyn Nets with 3:03 left in the first quarter.

The 34-year-old, who’d lived in Memphis since he was 16 and had been a Grizzlie for the past 11 seasons, was traded for the first time last week when the Raptors acquired him in a blockbuster deal at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

Gasol figured he might be in for a hero’s welcome in Toronto — he’s already had a small taste of the Raptors’ fan support when he debuted on the road at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

“We were playing in New York and you could already feel that energy,” Gasol said. “It felt like there were thousands (of Raptors fans) up there. Imagine having all of them here. It’s exciting. You feel happy. And what you’re playing for, it’s exciting as well.”