| 14 September 2010
It's one helluva jump to go from the Lakers to the Memphis Grizzlies, but even more so when you consider the Clippers before that. Hell, if we're being completely honest: it's one helluva jump to go from the LA Lakers to any team. But anyway, post the Lakers, it almost seems fitting to go to Memphis.
So... away we go, the top 5 all time for the Memphis Grizzlies:
5. Mike Bibby - In his first and only three seasons at the Grizzlies, Bibby put up averages of 14.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. That's pretty damn good.
4. Rudy Gay - Nearly every night, Rudy Gay'll give you 20+ points. There aren't too many wingmen in the league you can say that about... other than the very elite. Every season, Gay has improved on his statistical averages - there's a damn good chance that in 5 years time, we find him even higher on this list.
3. Zach Randolph - Do you know how many All Stars the Memphis Grizzlies have had? Pau Gasol, and Zach Randolph. That's it. And guess who's stats were better? Randolph's.
Zach has endured a lot of crap over the last year or so... and if we're honest - he at least partially deserves it. He certainly has made some bone-headed decisions. But we're not judging him on 'who' he's been... who is he now? He's one of the best to put on a Grizzlies uniform.
2. Shareef Abdur-Rahim - It's a travesty that Abdur-Rahim never made an All Star game - he put up numbers that clearly deserved the honour. The guy never averaged less than 18.7ppg with the Grizzlies, and there were three clear seasons that he SHOULD have been a participant in the All Star game. Second all-time at the Grizz with points, rebounds and steals. Fourth in blocks, fifth in assists.
1. Pau Gasol - Not many players will make the top lists twice - but Pau Gasol does with being the top ranked guy for the Memphis Grizzlies. Rookie of the Year for Memphis, and still their all time leading scorer: Gasol took a perennial losing roster and took it to the playoffs in the spring of 2004. Forget when he became a Laker, Gasol came to work day in and day out at Memphis and put up numbers that would stand up to a comparison with any other center in the league (despite playing out of his true position).
When writing this, I think I silently thanked Chris Wallace four times.
And Jeff Fox over at Hoops Manifesto's quick of the mark this time! Here are the votes on the All Time Top 10 for the Memphis Grizzlies!
Up next... the Miami Heat. Should be interesting.
