It’s rare that you come across a team that had an “era” without ever actually winning a title. That’s what the Grizzlies were in Memphis from 2011 to 2017
They beat up on the league’s best teams. They were a matchup no one wanted to see when the playoffs rolled around. Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol were the foundation of the NBA’s grit and grind Grizzlies.
You can’t talk about those Grizzlies without talking about Zach Randolph, the team’s All-Star power forward. That era just took another hit with him officially announcing his retirement from the NBA over the weekend.
One love. 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/aZmUTbD2eS
— Zach Randolph (@MacBo50) December 28, 2019
I gave this game my all, and it gave everything back and more. Basketball will always be a part of me. From Marion, to East Lansing, to Portland, NY, LA, Memphis, Sacramento and everywhere in Between — thank you all for an incredible journey.
In total, Randolph played 17 seasons and averaged 16.6 points along with 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field. He made two All-Star appearances in his career — both with the Grizzlies. He played for five teams in total, but Memphis was his most notable stop.
With Randolph officially retiring, only Conley and Gasol are the last remnants left of that team’s core. Their run was spectacular while it lasted despite a less than stellar ending.
They never won a championship or reached the NBA Finals, but they were never supposed to. They mostly played the spoiler and just made the league more fun. Randolph was a big part of that and he’ll certainly be missed because of it.
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