Former Grizzly Marreese Speights is an NBA World Champion

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with teammates after game six of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Former Memphis Grizzly and current member of the Golden State Warriors, Marreese Speights, has become an NBA World Champion.

The NBA Finals are over. The 2014-15 NBA season is finished. The Golden State Warriors are the latest NBA World Champions following their Game 6 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Grizz Nation despises the Warriors. The Memphis Grizzlies had a real chance of winning their first ever title until Golden State knocked our beloved team out of the postseason in a Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

While there was literally no good to come from the disappointing outcome, at least Grizz Nation can be happy for one player on the Warriors’ squad.

Marreese Speights.

March 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5, right) high-fives guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Wizards 107-76. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

“Mo” Speights spent parts of two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies between 2011 and 2013. He saw his NBA career rejuvenated in Memphis. He had fallen out of the Philadelphia 76ers’ rotation and was riding the bench by the end of his tenure in Philly. He signed with the Grizz to walk directly into a golden opportunity.

The Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph went down with an injury that forced him to miss a large chunk of the 2011-12 season. Mo stepped in as Z-Bo’s top replacement. It was the biggest shoes Speights had ever needed to fill in the NBA, and he played tremendously in that slot.

Speights quickly became a fan favorite, although he was forced into a trade as a throw-in in order for the deal to reach completion as the Grizzlies sent him and two others to the Cleveland Cavaliers near the halfway point of the 2012-13 season. Eventually he would wind up where he is today–a member of the 2014-15 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.

Memphis elevated Speights’ game in a major way. They increased his work ethic. A defense-dominant team made him a better defender. They even helped solidify his midrange jumper. The 100 games (56 starts) that he received in a Grizzly uniform served as a showcase for the entire association that he was worthy of playing big minutes–in a big role–for a playoff team.

April 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5, left) celebrates with guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The experience and maturity has led him to the upper echelon of the National Basketball Association–a place every player strives to reach but few accomplish the task–an NBA Final’s Champion. The Larry O’Brien trophy. World Champs. Marreese Speights and his Golden State Warriors took down LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

While Speights did not finish out the 2015 NBA Finals in the rotation, he undoubtedly made a large impact on his team throughout 2014-15. He even played well in the postseason until he had a blunder midway through the NBA Finals. All that matters now is the championship ring–and maybe in the future, rings–that Speights will be sporting for the rest of his lifetime.

Congratulations, Mo! It was very well-deserved. Enjoy it!

The Memphis Grizzlies will be circling all meetings versus Golden State on their calendar as soon as the 2015-16 season schedule is released.

The chase is already on.

Go Grizz!

Next: Why Must the Grizzlies Target Wesley Matthews?

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