Zach Randolph is one of the most notable big men from the NBA over the past 20 years.
Randolph was a fan favorite throughout his time in the league, an 18-year veteran.
While he had success early on with the Portland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks, Randolph is most well-known for his time with the Memphis Grizzlies.
He recently spoke about getting traded to the Grizzlies in a podcast with Paul George, outlining what a big deal this was for his career.
“The best thing to happen to my career… That’s my city,” Randolph said.
The Grizzlies thrived when Randolph was on the team, as they were able to dig themselves out of a multi-year hole.
They might have struggled when he came to the team, but Randolph was a sign of change for the organization.
The Grizzlies have since been a playoff-contending team, and Randolph can be thanked for that.
He helped them get to this place, but players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant also represent a new age of talented players for the Grizzlies.
It will be interesting to see what the next few years hold for this organization, especially since Morant has had his fair share of off-court struggles in recent years.
He and Jackson Jr. are the team’s cornerstones, but they have to be on the court to make a difference.
Randolph helped pave the way for this team to succeed, and it’s now coming to fruition.
Can the Grizzlies keep the momentum going into the 2024-2025 season, hoping to make a deep playoff run?