Grizzlies all-star center Pau Gasol strongly endorsed new Griz coach Marc Iavaroni from his home in Spain today.

"I?ve heard a lot of good things about him," Gasol said via telephone from Spain. "I?ve heard he?s a bright guy and he has a good chance of being a great head coach. Hopefully, this will work out good for the franchise for a long time."

Gasol said he?s optimistic that the franchise is establishing a clear direction with Iavaroni as a definite staple.

"The stability of a coach means a lot to players," Gasol said. "What I wanted in a coach was an ability to carry a team in the appropriate way, and someone who will transmit a good vibe. We need someone to put everybody on the same page with a winning mentality. Leadership is important for young teams."