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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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DALLAS, TX – JULY 30: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf #7 of the 3 Headed Monsters attempts a shot over Bonzi Wells #6 of Tri-State during week six of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at American Airlines Center on July 30, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/BIG3/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – JULY 30: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf #7 of the 3 Headed Monsters attempts a shot over Bonzi Wells #6 of Tri-State during week six of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at American Airlines Center on July 30, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/BIG3/Getty Images) /

4. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (2000-01)

Although he never made an NBA All-Star roster, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s resume includes winning  the league’s Most Improved Player in 1993, an All-Rookie Team selection in 1991, twice leading the league in free-throw percentage, and peaking as a 19-points-per-game scorer with the Denver Nuggets.

Abdul-Rauf became most famous for his silent, peaceful protests during the U.S. national anthem, which to this day many believe got him blackballed from the NBA.

How else do you explain someone averaging 19.2 points per game for the Nuggets in 1996 being out of the league and settling for work overseas by 1998?

Abdul-Rauf did make a brief NBA comeback in 2000 when he signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies. In 41 games coming off the bench, he averaged 6.5 points.

One of the best pure shooters you’ll ever see, Abdul-Rauf was curiously off in his stint with the Grizzlies; he made just 28.6 percent of his 3-pointers and 75.9 percent of his free throws.

After that half-season cameo, Abdul-Rauf went back overseas and spent the next decade playing in Russia, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

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