Memphis Grizzlies: 15 players who defined Grit and Grind
By John Buhler
7. player. 211. . PF. (2015-present). JaMychal Green
JaMychal Green may have come on at the tail-end of the peak “Grit and Grind” years. However, he has certainly found a home playing for the Grizzlies at the four. Green went undrafted out of Alabama in 2012. After playing in the then D-League in the San Antonio Spurs organization, he came to Memphis in 2015 and has been with the club ever since.
Green initially signed with the Grizzlies on a 10-day contract in February 2015. He ended up playing in 20 regular season games with the Grizzlies down the stretch, starting in one game. Green may have only averaged 2.7 points in 7.0 minutes per game in his first season with Memphis, but he did play in five playoff games for the Grizzlies that year.
In 2015-16, Green would more than find his way into the Grizzlies rotation. He played in 78 games, making 15 starts while averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 18.5 minutes per contest. With increased play, he eventually usurped Grizzlies fan favorite Zach Randolph for a starting role with the team the following year.
It was bittersweet to say the least. Randolph is a Memphis basketball legend who we will absolutely get to in a bit. While Randolph was still a good player, Green’s rise as a player in Memphis saw him start in 75 of 77 games in 2016-17. Green averaged 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest that season.
His climb as a player led to an interesting free agency for Green and the Grizzlies in 2017. Memphis knew that they had a starter at forward in Green, but had to choose between him and the popular Randolph. Green came back on two-year, $27 million deal, while Randolph joined former Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger in Northern California with the Sacramento Kings.
In his first year on that new deal, Green averaged career highs in all major statistical categories. He had 10.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks per game in 2017-18. Yes, Memphis struggled as a team last year, but Green had his best season to date.
Though he may never become anything close to a star player in the NBA, he fits right in with the roster J.B. Bickerstaff has in place entering 2018-19. He can average close to a double-double to complement both point guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol as they play on the back-nine of their respective primes.
Green is entering the final year of his contract with the Grizzlies. If he continues to build on what he has done so far, he could be back with the team on a new deal. However, he could be a viable trade asset at the deadline if Memphis falls out of the playoff picture. Either way, Green’s inclusion on this list is just. He is the ultimate glue guy in the front court, does great work on the glass and in the paint. But most notably, he did take the starting role from Randolph a few years back.