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10 stars you might have forgot played for the Memphis Grizzlies

By Amaar Burton

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Vince Carter #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on January 18, 2017 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Vince Carter #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on January 18, 2017 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 14: Joakim Noah #55 of the Memphis Grizzlies grabs a rebound against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 14, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 14: Joakim Noah #55 of the Memphis Grizzlies grabs a rebound against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 14, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

7. Joakim Noah (2018-19)

If done right, you can spin Joakim Noah’s resume into a Hall of Fame resume. But anyone who’s watched his career would be hard-pressed to give him serious HOF consideration. The accolades are there, but the impact really isn’t. At least not on an all-time-great level.

Still, Noah was a big-time player in his prime. He was NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, All-NBA First Team that same year, a two-time All-Star and three-time All-Defensive Team pick. Not to mention his college career (that’s part of the Hall of Fame criteria) in which he was the face of a Florida Gators squad that won back-to-back national championships.

Noah’s NBA peak happened with the Chicago Bulls. In 2016, he returned to his hometown by signing a lucrative deal with the New York Knicks. Not only did Noah not pan out as the man to bring the Knicks back to glory, but the time he was done in New York, people were calling him one of the worst signings in franchise history.

The Knicks cut the injury-prone big man in 2018, and he signed with the Grizzlies in the middle of the 2018-19 season.

Noah played 42 games for the Grizzlies that season, coming off the bench to average 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He had a few double-doubles and some moments where he looked like the elite defender he once was, but overall it was clear Noah wasn’t a game-changer anymore.

Memphis let Noah go in free agency. He played a handful of games with the LA Clippers this past season.

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