10 Players Who Should Have Been Memphis Grizzlies
- Paul Pierce
: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nearing the conclusion of an incredible career, Paul Pierce agreed to come off the bench and help advance the burgeoning talent of the Washington Wizards. Despite having spent the season filling a reserve role behind young up and coming stars like John Wall and Bradley Beal, when the Wizards needed a crucial bucket in the playoffs to keep their season alive, the moment belonged to Pierce. In reference to his buzzer-beating shot ricocheting off the glass before falling through the hoop, the veteran scorer was asked the hackneyed question of whether or not he called “bank” when he released the ball. He quickly replied “I called GAME.”
The Truth has never been a player who backed down from a challenge. He persevered through some difficult and disappointing years in Boston before returning the Celtics to championship form in 2008. You may recall that only one season prior to winning the NBA Finals that the Celtics were as terrible as the “Dunkyland” Grizzlies in 2006-07. Pierce put in the time and the work to be in a situation where he could play alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Paul Pierce seems to have the heart of a Grizzly, and since he grew up in Inglewood California he gets a pass for returning to Los Angeles this summer to be a Clipper.
- Kevin Garnett
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The Big Ticket’s resume speaks for itself: NBA champion, MVP award winner, Olympic gold medalist, 15-time NBA All-Star, 9-time All-NBA selection, NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner, 12-time NBA All-Defensive team selection. Aside from revolutionizing the forward position and the NBA landscape in general, KG changed the game by bringing a never before seen level of intensity. Since The Kid first arrived straight out of highschool, his passionate play has inspired teammates and fans for nearly two decades. It’s safe to say he would have been an ideal Memphis Grizzly.
- Alonzo Mourning
Aug 8, 2014; Springfield, MA, USA; Seven-time NBA all-star Alonzo Mourning is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame during the 2014 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Springfield Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
During a decade proliferated by dominant post players and future hall of Fame centers like Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning still managed to stand out from the crowd during several all-star seasons in the 90’s with the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat. ‘Zo was a top tier player at both ends of the court who was an especially gifted defender and shot blocker. His game had no lack for gusto, as he was incredibly entertaining to watch with his passionate and emotionally charged play. As great as he was at stuffing shots and stat sheets during the 90’s, the latter portion of his career was even more impressive. Coming off a season in which he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and an Olympic gold medal, in 2000 Mourning learned he had a rare kidney disease that would cause him to miss the majority of the next five seasons and ultimately require a kidney transplant. Determined to return to the NBA, Zo underwent tireless rehabilitation work to become physically prepared to play in the NBA again. Not only did Mourning make a remarkable comeback as a productive rotation player who played a crucial role in helping the Heat win a championship, Zo also made a commitment to serving the greater community through his ongoing work with the National Kidney Foundation and Zo’s Fund for Life. Who wouldn’t love to have Zo affiliated with their team in any capacity?
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