The Memphis Grizzlies are not an old NBA franchise because they were established in 1995 but are still among the best teams. The Grizzlies are relatively young compared to the rest of the teams in the league, given their history. However, the Grizzlies have made an impact by laying the foundation in a very short time. The team has always had hard-working players who became top-tier stars. Here is the list of the best players in franchise history.
10. James Posey
James Posey played only two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies during his NBA career. He played a key role on the defensive end and averaged 17.4 points per game. Posey was part of various franchises during his active years in the league and won two NBA rings, once with the Miami Heat and once with the Boston Celtics. Currently, he serves as a coach for the Washington Wizards.
9. Rudy Gay
Rudy Gay was the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, selected by the Houston Rockets and later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He played seven seasons with the franchise, averaging 18 points per game. Although Gay’s hopes of becoming the face of the franchise didn’t work out, he played well during his stint there. Memphis ended up trading Rudy, but he was never able to achieve the same success as he did there.
8. Shane Battier
Shane was selected by the Grizzlies in the 2001 NBA Draft. He played five seasons with the franchise and emerged as a role player with a reputation for being one of the smartest players in the league. Battier stepped up in big moments for the team and had the best seasons for them. Battier was loved by the Memphis fans because of his unselfish style of play. This work ethic ultimately earned him two NBA rings with the Miami Heat.
7. Mike Conley
Mike Conley spent his first 12 seasons in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies. These years were a big part of his career, and that’s why his trade to the Utah Jazz was surprising for the Memphis fans. Conley never made an All-Star team in Memphis, but he was always one of the best players who missed out until 2021, when he made the All-Star team with Utah. Mike had a positive locker room presence that’s why he is one of the best players in the franchise’s history.
6. Tony Allen
Tony Allen joined the Grizzlies after spending six seasons with the Boston Celtics and winning the 2008 NBA championship with them. He used his experience to help Memphis improve. Allen made six All-Defensive selections during his career, which shows how great a defender he was. When the Grizzlies adopted an identity of grind style that was perfectly represented by Allen in every game.
5. Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 and became the first foreign player to win the Rookie of the Year Award. “The Spaniard” spent eight seasons with the Grizzlies and was an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2006. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Gasol was traded to the Lakers in an exchange, with his young brother Marc Gasol replacing him in the Memphis Grizzlies.
4. Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Shareef Abdur-Rahim is a forgotten name who spent the first five seasons of his NBA career with the Grizzlies when they were in Vancouver. The league first intended for the Grizzlies to be another Canadian team, but the Vancouver years saw them struggle to find relevance there and Shareef Abdur-Rahim was seen as a rare bright player. He averaged 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, which is one of the best averages in Grizzlies history, but due to lack of wins or relevance, he was overlooked.
3. Zach Randolph
Zach Randolph’s NBA career saw him bounce from team to team until he found a home with the Memphis Grizzlies. Other teams didn’t really invest in Randolph until Memphis felt he could be their Power Forward for a while. He spent seven seasons with the Grizzlies and made two All-Star appearances. “Z-Bo” averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in Memphis. More importantly, he found an NBA home to help the Grizzlies have their best season yet.
2. Ja Morant
Ja Morant was the second overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has been an incredible player for the franchise and has made them more relevant in the league than they have been in their entire franchise campaign. Ja Morant’s potential and success on the court make him a captivating figure in the league. Morant has led the Grizzlies to a great position where they expected to contend for years. The 24-year-old point guard is becoming a superstar for the franchise.
1. Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol’s consistency makes him the greatest player in Memphis Grizzlies history. He was drafted by the team coincidentally as a part of a trade package that involved his brother Pau Gasol. He played eleven seasons with the team, putting up great numbers and making a strong impact in every way. His greatest accomplishment was winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award. “The Big Burrito” made three All-Star appearances and two All-NBA selections and won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
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