Gasol brothers to train with Barcelona during NBA lockout

Spanish basketball stars Pau and Marc Gasol will train with Spanish side Regal Barcelona for the duration of the NBA lockout, it has been announced. With talks in the USA to end the lockout stalling on Tuesday with the announcement that the NBA pre-season has been cancelled as a result of the protest, the Gasol brothers will train with their former club. Marc Gasol, who is with the Memphis Grizzlies, has already begun working with Barcelona. "It is an honor to be able to come back home again and train with the best team in Europe," he commented on his 'Twitter' site. Meanwhile Pau, who is with the LA Lakers, will not begin work until next Thursday because of an ankle injury he picked up as the brothers helped Spain to their success in retaining the European Championship in Lithuania last month. "The good relationship between the players, the club and the technical staff has allowed the pair to join in the training session while the NBA lockout continues," explained Regal Barcelona in a communique. However, that does not necessarily mean the Spanish Endesa Liga ACB will see the Gasol brothers play a competitive game this season, as Pau has confirmed that he would only sign a deal if the lockout meant the cancellation of the entire NBA season. If that was the case, he also made it clear where he would play. "Barcelona would be the first option to consider, but I don' t know if that option exists. I would like it because it is where I began as a player, it is my home and the best club in Europe," explained Gasol in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC1.