As the leader of the NBA’s best overall defense in 2012-2013, Marc Gasol was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the NBA on Wednesday.

Gasol enjoyed an incredibly productive year on the defensive side of the floor, averaging 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, while guiding a team that allowed just 88.7 points per contest.

Gasol became not only the first Memphis Grizzlies player to win the award, but also the first European-born player to do so, which was something he was very proud of.

“I’m the first European ever to accomplish this,” Gasol, a native of Spain, said Wednesday, according to ESPN.com. “It’s really an honor. Now I think my kids will believe me when I tell them I played in the NBA.”

Gasol was humbled by the honor and he was quick to give credit to his teammates, who came together to form the league’s most ferocious defense.

“I look at it as the whole team got acknowledged,” Gasol said. “I think it’s a team effort. It’s a team game. There’s no way around it. That’s how we play basketball. We play as a unit. Defensively, you need five guys to play defense. If one of us is not playing defense, we can’t do it.”

Lakers forward Pau Gasol was one of the first to congratulate his younger brother.

“It’s great. I texted him and told him I’m proud,” Pau said. “I’m proud of him. It’s a great award to receive. Great recognition, a great accomplishment for him and I’m just very proud of what he’s been able to do and who he has become as a player and as a person. So, I’m a proud big brother.”

The Grizzlies will hope their defense helps them earn a win against the Clippers on Thursday, as Memphis looks to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole in the best-of-seven first round series.