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NBA Draft: Kyle Lowry the Greatest Pick in Memphis Grizzlies History?

By Ed Memphis

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball as Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball as Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies Kyle Lowry NBA Draft
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Kyle Lowry in the 2006 NBA Draft (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

As Kyle Lowry has reached the NBA Finals and the annual NBA Draft looming, the Memphis Grizzlies have to wonder if they kept the right point guard.

After being drafted near the end of the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. After many said he was not a starting NBA point guard. After being traded away several times and landing with the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry has finally arrived.

The NBA Finals are set to begin this week and Kyle Lowry’s Raptors are finally in for the first time in franchise history while going against the mighty Golden State Warriors. This is the final stage of the season with everyone else watching.

If Kyle Lowry comes out on top in the NBA Finals, he will have won big on both of professional basketball’s biggest stages in the NBA Finals and the Olympics. His list of accomplishments without an NBA World Championship ring make a strong argument for the Basketball Hall-of-Fame, even if not necessarily a first-ballot inductee. If Kyle gets a ring, his fate is sealed, stamped and delivered for the Hall-of-Fame.

Thus, it is only logical we ask the question, is Kyle Lowry the greatest NBA Draft pick in Memphis Grizzlies franchise history? Now some may argue, what qualifies for the label “greatness?”

For starters, greatness can be defined by a combination of things. A few are individual accomplishments, impact on your craft, success as a team (if a team sport), and the timeline in which you accomplish such feat(s). Scoring 10,000 points holds more value in a five- to 10-year frame versus doing so over 15 to 20 years, which is a great example of the former.

Now, with the first names in Grizzlies Draft history, many will be quick to rebuttal with Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and of course Mike Conley.

Well, Pau Gasol was technically drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. A similar situation took place with Marc being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and then being eventually traded to Memphis nearly a year later, ironically in a trade for his older brother.

Shareef, who has the individual stats to be mentioned, was a casualty of the expansion team war, so his Grizzlies teams never even sniffed playoff contention. As a result, he does not really meet the qualifications of the greatest per se, but his career certainly makes an argument for being the best Grizzlies Draft pick ever.

Now it comes down to Mike Conley versus Kyle Lowry. Allow Beale Street Bears to first look at career individual statistics.

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