SPAIN’S victory over Argentina in Beijing on Sunday night gave Marc Gasol a rare feat — winning the NBA crown and a Basketball World Cup in the same year.

Gasol got to bask in a championship celebration for the second time in three months — and this time, he did it for his country.

For Gasol it was the crowning achievement of an incredible year.

Gasol scored 14 for the winners, who never trailed and added this crown to the one it claimed in 2006. And for him, 2019 will go down as a year the likes of which few others have enjoyed.

The Toronto Raptors center becomes the second player to win an NBA title and a FIBA world gold medal in the same year, joining Lamar Odom — who did it for the Los Angeles Lakers and USA Basketball in 2010. Gasol also became the 19th to win either an NBA or WNBA crown along with a gold medal, either of the Olympic or World Cup variety, in the same year.

The first 18 all did it for the U.S.

“NBA champion and a World Cup champion as well,” Gasol said. “What can I say? How does it sound to you? I feel very fortunate to be in this position and be able to play this game and help these guys be part of history of Spanish basketball.”

It was also a double-title year for Spain coach Sergio Scariolo; he’s an assistant on Nick Nurse’s staff in Toronto.

Spain beat Argentina 95-75 to win the World Cup for the first time since 2006, completing a stunning campaign for a squad considered by many to be among the outsiders when the 32-team tournament began.

The Spaniards scored first and never relinquished the lead, relying on swarming interior defense and superior rebounding to snuff out the offensive threat of 2004 Olympic champion Argentina.

Point guard Ricky Rubio racked up 20 points and three assists and Gasol and Willy Hernangomez swatted three shots each as Spain pulled down 47 rebounds, 20 more than Argentina, en route to a comprehensive victory.

Gabriel Deck scored 24 points for Argentina (8-1), which got off to a slow start and played uphill the rest of the way. Luis Scola was held to eight points.

“This is basketball,” Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez said. “If you play better than the other team, you win the game.”

(SD-Agencies)