10 Players Who Should Have Been Memphis Grizzlies

When the Memphis Grizzlies announced the acquisition of NBA journeyman Matt Barnes, Memphis GM Chris Wallace described Barnes, who has been both widely revered and reviled for his fierce and ruthless competitive demeanor, as a “player who was destined to be a Memphis Grizzly.” Wallace’s notion of destiny bringing the right type of player to Memphis ultimately brings us to this query: what other recent NBA players spent a career demonstrating the essential pluck and aptitude emblematic of our Grizzlies’ unique brand of basketball despite never having the privilege of suiting up for the Griz?

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Memphis staples Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and, the Grindfather himself Tony Allen, elevated the franchise by ushering in the current “Grit and Grind” basketball culture and postseason relevance that befits Memphis so well and apparently befits Matt Barnes. While the Grizzlies did not experience playoff success or earn FedExForum its “Grindhouse” reputation until 2011, Memphians and Grizzlies fans everywhere have always identified with and celebrated the tough guys who go harder and out-hustle their peers. As Chris Herrington suggested years ago in the Memphis Flyer, Grizzlies fans may even love the hustle guys so much that we, like so many sports fans, have a tendency to “swoon for the gritty overachiever”: we are prone to give a standing ovation to players like Bo Outlaw and Brian Cardinal after they get a floorburn attempting to save an already out-of-bounds ball while we find ourselves unimpressed by the less demonstrative style of a player like Pau Gasol who can make difficult plays look effortless.

Whether through earned respect, blind devotion, or some combination of the two, Memphis Grizzlies fans came to admire their fair share of players who were both gritty and effective during the Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello years several seasons prior to Grit and Grind. Even now it does not take long to scan a crowd at FedExForum or virtually anywhere in the city of Memphis and find fans who still revere a bloodline of gutsy and talented Grizzlies going back to the likes of Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Jason Williams, James Posey, Bonzi Wells, Damon Stoudamire and

Feb 8, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) reacts toward forward Zach Randolph (50) after a play in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Atlanta 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Lorenzen Wright among others. These players embodied the tenacity, toughness, and commitment to winning that propelled the franchise to its initial playoff appearances and those qualities have since become the defining characteristics of the franchise. However, several other NBA players who were prominent during the first decade of the Grizzlies’ history in Memphis would also be perfect for today’s team mentality, but, sadly, destiny never gave them the opportunity to be a Memphis Grizzly. These players were cut from the same I.B.Y.A. cloth as today’s Grizzlies. They are tirelessly driven and deftly skilled; not to be mistaken for mere goons, fake tough-guys, or scrubs whose sole contribution to an NBA roster is their “hustle” or “energy.” While we could identify several hard-nosed stars from the 20th century ranging from Willis Reed to Charles Barkley to the Bad Boys era Pistons, these are the 10 players from the recent past who best exhibited the unique blend of talent and toughness that has become the calling card of today’s Memphis Grizzlies.

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