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 Martin, who spent most of his professional career at Real Madrid,
became the first Spaniard to play in the NBA when he joined Portland
in 1986, although he barely featured and returned to Real the
following year.
His death in 1989 aged 27 on Madrid's orbital motorway, when he lost
control of his car at high speed, shocked Spain and the basketball
world and Real retired his number 10 jersey in homage to the man
they called "a leader and an icon".
"Fernando Martin is an emblematic figure in Spanish sport and, above
all, in basketball," Gasol wrote in his column in Spanish sports
daily Marca.
 "He was the pioneer among Spanish players who made it to the NBA and
that will last forever," added the Chicago Bulls forward, one of the
most successful Spaniards in the NBA along with younger brother
Marc.
"A lot of importance must be attached to his audacious attempt to
make the leap at a time when the gulf between the two basketballs
was very wide," Gasol said. "Martin dared and that deserves all
possible recognition."
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Martin won four Spanish league titles with Real and helped Spain to
silver medals at the 1983 European Championship and the 1984 Olympic
Games.
"Apart from his quality in front court play, Fernando Martin won
over the fans thanks to his fighting character, courage and
personality," Real wrote on their website (www.realmadrid.com) on
Wednesday.
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Peter Rutherford)
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