National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar, Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, says that his personal improvement and the excellent start his team has been showing in the current season are due to him losing some unneeded weight.

The Grizzlies are currently on a 14-2 record, and will be seeking their 15th win on Sunday. They point out that the absence of simple sugars is a reason for their early success in the season.

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Their team has been lifted by the efforts of former Defensive Player of the Year award recipient Gasol, with the Grizzlies being amazing on the defensive end of the floor, while also improving on the offensive end as well.

Gasol has been averaging 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks through the 16 games that they have played so far.

His current scoring average would mark a career high, and each of the others are above his career average in that respective statistic. Also a career best is his 23.3 player efficiency rating.

The Grizzlies have been 4.3 points per 100 possessions when Gasol is around.

For years, fans and analysts alike have known that Gasol is a great player. However, his resurgence to superstar status this season may have something to do with him shedding a few extra pounds in the offseason.

Teammate Mike Conley is guessing that Gasol had dropped nearly 50 pounds since then.

In an article published Sunday in the New York Times, Gasol shared that he spent the offseason in Spain cutting refined sugar, soda, and processed food from his diet.

He was also limiting his carbs and red meat intake, making him eat like a semi-vegetarian or "flexitarian" diet.

While he will not say explicitly just how much weight he has lost, it is noticeable when the Grizzlies are on the floor.

TagsMarc Gasol, Weight Loss