You don’t have “Grit and Grind” in Memphis without power forward Zach Randolph. Affectionately referred to as “Z-Bo”, Randolph finally became an All-Star and a hardwood hero once joining the Grizzlies in 2009.
Initially a one-and-done player with Michigan State, Randolph was a first-round pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2001. As a player in his early 20s, Randolph showed obvious talent in the low-post as a scorer and as a rebounder. However, the Trail Blazers were in their “Jail Blazer” era and that wasn’t ideal for the young forward from Marion, Indiana.
After six good, but not great seasons with the Trail Blazers, Randolph would be dealt to the New York Knicks in a deal involving Steve Francis and Channing Frye. He spent a year and a half in the Big Apple before being shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Cuttino Mobley in November 2008.
In summer 2009, Randolph would be dealt one last time, this time to the place he’ll forever call his NBA home in Memphis. It only took Quentin Richardson, but Randolph finally made it to Memphis in 2009, where he would spend the next eight NBA seasons.
At 28 years old in 2009-10, Randolph finally made his first NBA All-Star team. He averaged 20.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in his first season with the Grizzlies. Despite not being able to jump over a phone book, Randolph played his best ball in the paint with a ferocious tenacity to compete. He worked on his craft and finally put it all together with the Grizzlies in his late 20s and early 30s.
His toughness in the paint playing alongside Marc Gasol at center made the Grizzlies one of the hardest teams to score on night in and night out. Opponents had to hope the 3-ball was working when they played the Grizzlies in the “Grindhouse”. Otherwise, they’d be all black and blue from trying to fight for every bucket in the paint.
Randolph would make a second NBA All-Star team in 2012-13, as he averaged 15.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He also made an All-NBA Third Team in 2010-11 in his second season with Memphis, his only All-NBA team to date.
In short, “Grit and Grind” was centered around Randolph in the front court. He was terrific for the Grizzlies for his first seven seasons with the team. In year eight with Memphis, he would be usurped by JaMychal Green on the depth chart. In 2017, Randolph signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings. Upon his departure from Memphis, the Grizzlies organization has stated that no other Grizzlies player will don No. 50 and that his jersey will be retired once he does call it a career.