Tag: Zach Randolph

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Marc Gasol’s Jersey is Retired in a Night of Appreciation

Marc Gasol reacts during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

It wasn’t the basketball game that drew over 17,000 spectators to the FedExForum on Saturday and caused all the excitement. The extremely short-handed Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 116-96. 

The reason the fans were there was for a more joyous occasion as the franchise retired Marc Gasol’s No. 33 jersey. Just two players in team history have had their jersey numbers retired: Zach Randolph on December 11, 2021, and Gasol, who now joins him.

Marc Gasol’s jersey is risen during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

As the lights went out inside the arena, the music blared, DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia began rapping, “Now ever since I can remember, I’ve been poppin’ my collar. Poppin’-poppin’ my collar, poppin’-poppin’ my collar,” and there stood the “Core Four” together again in one place for the first time since the spring of 2017: Gasol, Randolph, Tony Allen, and Mike Conley. They were met with a standing ovation. 

When it came to doing things the right way as a team, Gasol wasn’t really concerned about individual accolades. Appropriately, he chose to share the night alongside the three men who had been instrumental in his — and the franchise’s — greatest success. These men spent seven seasons together, won the very first playoff game in franchise history in 2011, and went on to make it to the 2013 Western Conference finals. 

All four players reflected on their shared memories of playing in the Grindhouse.

Gasol thanked his Memphis coaches and teammates, with his family by his side. The All-Star big man also thanked the fans and the city of Memphis for their unwavering support throughout his stay in the Bluff City. 

Marc Gasol and his family look on during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

His brother (and former Grizzlies star) Pau Gasol spoke to the media prior to the game: “I am very proud of what we’ve be able to accomplish, and what Marc has been able to accomplish, and how he came here as a 16-year old, had to leave school and everything back home, to the kind of follow the big brother’s dream and just brought about what he has been able to do.”

Hall of Famer, Pau Gasol speaking to the media prior to the jersey retirement ceremony (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

The two-time NBA champion continued: “How we approach everything is his character, his determination, the mark he left, the legacy, what he was able to do here and throughout his career, representing the city of Memphis the way he did for so many years with all  those guys, Mike [Conley] Zach [Randolph] Tony [Allen] and many others. Tonight is a special night for our family that brings back a lot of memories.”

A host of former Grizzlies were in attendance, including Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, Quincy Pondexter, Beno Udrih, Darrell Arthur, Jon Leuer and Tayshaun Prince. Former Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger was also there, and former Grizzly Kyle Lowry, who stayed after the game. 

Fellow Spaniard, and Grizzlies forward, Santi Aldama, spoke about the Gasol brothers: “I think since day one, obviously making it to the NBA is a child’s dream,” Aldama said. “But getting drafted by Memphis and being here and seeing what [the Gasols] have done for the franchise and the city has been awesome. Just being able to talk to them and kind of see their life here and now me kind of experiencing that is incredible.”

Elizabeth Smith has been a season ticket holder since 2011. “Marc Gasol isn’t just a player who played for my favorite basketball team; he is an integral part of the fabric of the city of Memphis and the Grizzlies,” Smith said. “Marc’s impact on the court speaks for itself, but it’s more than just his basketball accomplishments that make him special. He was the center of the Grizzlies for over a decade in more ways than the obvious.”

“Big Spain embodies everything I love about the Grizzlies and what I expect from my favorite team: a passion for the game, a heart for the community, and a refusal to accept defeat without fighting til the bitter end. Marc, along with TA, ZBo, and Mike, were the catalysts for my casual appreciation for basketball evolving into a deep love of the game. I have said many times that those four will forever be my favorites. That wouldn’t be possible without Marc, one of the cornerstones of that era of Grizzlies basketball, for fans like me.”

“My favorite moment of the night that brought tears to my eyes was the showing of his Toronto championship ring that had “GRIT N GRIND” engraved in it,” said longtime fan Sheri Dunlap Hensley.  

“We were able to celebrate with the Gasols after the ceremony,” Hensley explained. “It was nice speaking with his parents. I asked them when they would be traveling back home and I said “I am sure you are ready to get back home.”  His mom said “Oh no! We love Memphis! The city embraced us and Memphis put smiles on my son’s faces!”  She went on about how thankful she will forever be to Memphis and the fans.”

Hensley even had a chance to reminisce with Gasol, himself. 

Sheri Hensley chatting with Marc Gasol.

Adrian Shavers has been a Grizzlies season ticket holder for a long time. The night was very special for him. Shavers said, “It was awesome — felt like a family reunion. It felt really good seeing and chatting with old friends. One thing about our players, they love us fans and remember us. It was a real family feel, and that’s what I felt that night.”

Grizzlies fan Adrian Shavers posing in front Gasol’s banner. (Photo by: Adrian Shavers)

One of the most talented players to ever suit up for Memphis, Marc Gasol’s legacy is now sealed with his jersey hanging from the rafters. It has been a pleasure, Big Spain. GNG Forever.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

The Grizzlies Whooped That Clip

Jaren Jackson, Jr. putback dunk against the Clippers (screen grab courtesy of Memphis Grizzlies Instagram)

The Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 135-109 on Tuesday night in Memphis.

With a record of 38-18, the Grizzlies are 20 games above .500 for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

It was the first time Memphis had swept the Clippers in a season series since the 2003-04 campaign (4-0). The Grizzlies are perfect (16-0) this season when scoring at least 120 points, which includes their four victories against the Clippers.

The unicorn and the ninja were the two best players on the court last night. The twosome of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant combined to outscore all of the Clippers starters 56-40.

Jackson, Jr. came out aggressive from the start and finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds. One could speculate he was upset by his All-Star snub. An aggressive unicorn will be scary for the Grizzlies’ future opponents. 

Taylor Jenkins was proud of Jackson, Jr.’s aggressive play. He said, “I thought he played with great force, great activity. It’s something that we challenge in him, to continue to be aggressive on the boards, offensively and defensively. I thought he just was relentless – getting 50/50 balls. There were a couple sequences there, and-one, transition, we play with great pace, we miss a wide open three, he goes in and collects a big rebound, he’s swooping in from the corner to tip a ball out. I think we ended up with 21 offensive rebounds and he was a huge piece of that. So, when he plays with that aggressiveness and accepts that challenge, it pays off substantially for us and for him.”

Morant also praised his teammate:

Morant finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists. In the third quarter, he scored 14 of his 30 points. The 22-year-old now has at least 30 points in 19 games this season and averages more points per quarter than any other NBA player in the third period (9.2 points). 

For the second straight game, the Grizzlies held a 30-point lead and Morant did not play in the fourth quarter.

After the game Clippers guard Reggie Jackson described how difficult it is playing this current Grizzlies team. He said, “Taking care of the ball and keeping them out of transition. They dominate the paint every game we’ve played them and getting downhill attacking, not just Ja [Morant]. He’s been extremely aggressive all year and he knows what he’s doing. We gave them easy ones with crucial turnovers so that’s tough. This is a team that lives off pace and getting down the court and they really live off your mistakes.”

“We are reactionary when we play this team and we just have to hit first,” Jackson added. “We know their motto and it’s something they’re going to embrace: grit and grind. We understand what Memphis is about. They are a tough, blue collar team so the way they play and come out and compete it’s really indicative of who they are. We understand that we have to come out with a better mentality and be more physical and don’t worry about the refs.”

Jackson concluded, “They move at a high pace, they get up and down, and they really use their legs. It’s not even just their pace but how well they’re spaced within their pace. You can tell they work on it and they’re great at using all their weapons and their ability to make the right reads. They have a lot of talent but their continuity is what makes them a tough team right now.”

Tidbits

Zach Randolph was in the building to watch the Grizzlies demolish the Clippers. He had some words of wisdom for Morant and Jackson, Jr. after the game. 

Who Got Next

The Grizzlies start a three-game road trip in Detroit against the Pistons on Thursday evening. Tip-off is at 6pm CT. 

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From My Seat Sports

Banner Blunder

I love — I truly love — the Memphis Grizzlies retiring Zach Randolph’s number 50 last month. The more I consider the hallowed “core four” era of Grizzlies history (2010-17), the more I consider Z-Bo the face of that seven-year run of playoff appearances. If Mike Conley was the heart of those teams, Marc Gasol the backbone, and Tony Allen the soul, Randolph was the muscle, the personification of “we don’t bluff.” The first Grizzly to earn All-NBA status (in 2011), Randolph is rightfully the first player in franchise history to have his number retired for posterity. And the night Z-Bo was honored at FedExForum — December 11th — was almost perfect.

Even without current headliner Ja Morant, the Grizzlies made easy work of the Houston Rockets before the ceremony. With Randolph seated in a throne(!) and his family on a makeshift stage behind him, old friends Lionel Hollins and Marc Gasol joined the party to offer personal salutes. So did the man who brought Randolph to Memphis, former general manager Chris Wallace. When the unveiling finally arrived, it came with “Whoop That Trick” filling the arena. It may as well have been 2013, the Griz on their way to the Western Conference finals. It was almost perfect.

But there’s the banner itself. I’ve spent a month trying to love it, to let it grow on me. It’s unconventional as far as retired numbers go, but Memphis specializes in unconventional. There was very little conventional about Zach Randolph, so surely this was the right way to salute him. Surely . . . .

I just can’t come around. Look at it again. A platinum album(?), with the number 50 centered on the disc. “Randolph” below . . . and nothing else. A retired jersey — the banner on which it appears — should not require an explanation, and Zach Randolph’s at FedExForum leaves blanks that must be filled. Most significantly, when did Randolph play for the Grizzlies? A retired number represents not just the athlete honored, but the athlete’s time in uniform: the games, seasons, and achievements memorialized with the number and name. At the very least, “2009-17” needs to be added to Z-Bo’s banner.

But let’s imagine FedExForum in 2042, twenty years from now. In walks a fan who — hold on to your headband — hasn’t heard the legend of Zach Randolph. He looks up at that banner for the first time . . . and wonders if a musical artist has been honored. (This will be a particular problem if similar “records” for Conley, Gasol, and Allen are eventually alongside Randolph’s banner.) Memphis is a music town and lots of concerts have been held at FEF. So who was/is “Randolph” . . . and what’s the significance of “50”?

As painful as it might feel to Grit-and-Grind culture, a conventional banner saluting Zach Randolph is the way to go. A big, bold “50” in Beale Street Blue, on a white banner, with “Randolph” and “2009-17” prominent. Z-Bo was a professional basketball player (who happened to play in a town known for its music). Let’s not blur the impact he made with a platinum record, however shiny it may appear.

I know the Grizzlies meant well in their design solution for a seminal moment in Memphis sports history. And for a single night of celebration, sure. Slap that shiny disc on a wall and give it the spotlight treatment. But long-term? For posterity? And the template for future honored Grizzlies? Here’s hoping Z-Bo’s banner is reconsidered. I’ve been in the publishing business long enough to know that some designs are astray and when a concept can be corrected (and/or improved), it should be.

The Memphis Grizzlies are professional sports in this town. They are what make the Bluff City big league. This means the details — large and small — matter more when it comes to the way the Grizzlies conduct business and present their brand. And the way they honor franchise greats. You could say this column is kicking a sleeping grizzly bear. Maybe it is. But as glorious as Zach Randolph’s name and number appear now in FedExForum, the salute can be even better. Some shots are missed. Ask Z-Bo about the value of a strong rebound.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

50 for Da City: Z-Bo’s Jersey is Retired

Zach Randolph holding up Grizzlies' growl towel (Photo courtesy of Ron Tillery)

It was an unforgettable night for Grizzlies fans and the city of Memphis on Saturday night at the FedExForum.

Despite the Grizzlies’ 113-106 victory over the Houston Rockets, the night belonged to Zachary McKenley Randolph, better known as Z-Bo. Randolph’s number 50 was the first jersey retired in franchise history.

Randolph shed light on his feelings after being traded to Memphis in 2009. “I didn’t feel appreciated. I felt given away,” Randolph said during his media availability before the game. “But I was going to go in there with the right attitude and try to change the narrative.”

Zach Randolph during media availability (Credit: Sharon Brown)

And he did change that narrative.

Randolph led the Grizzlies to seven straight playoff appearances (2009-17), including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2013. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2011 and appeared in two All-Star Games (2010 and 2013).

The Michigan State alum is the Grizzlies all-time leader in offensive rebounds. Z-Bo also ranks second in both defensive and total rebounds. For Memphis, he had the most double-doubles of any player ever, and he ranks third in the categories of points, field goals, made and minutes played.

What a special night for a special player and a special person, said Grizzlies head Coach Taylor Jenkins. “To be out there as a team — some of the guys were saying it on the way back — it’s inspirational, it’s motivational. Just understanding the impact you can make as a player in this city, as a member of this community.”

Jenkins continued: “I’m just glad we were able to get a win to tee it up for Z-Bo so that it could be even more of a special night for him. I saw him on the way out and I said, ‘You’re a legend, man. This is a night to always remember.’ So I know he will soak it in, but this is really special to know that he is the first, and hopefully the first of many.”

Randolph’s front court mate and brother from another mother, Marc Gasol flew all the way from Spain to surprise him.

 “Seeing Big Spain [Gasol], I don’t remember the last time I saw him,” Randolph said with a big smile. “Just seeing my big little brother brought back memories. I am thankful he graced his time with me, coming all the way from Spain. He could be anywhere. I didn’t expect him to come.”

Here’s the moment Gasol surprised Z-Bo:

Gasol wasn’t the only special guest in attendance. Former GM Chris Wallace, former Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins, former Grizzlies player Bonzi Wells (who was Randolph’s mentor and Portland Trail Blazers teammate) were also in attendance. 

Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, JaMychal Green, Matt Barnes, Tom Izzo, Yo Gotti, Peyton Manning, Nate McMillan, Moneybagg Yo, and Chris Paul all sent well wishes and congratulations to Randolph via video messages on the Jumbotron. 

Hilariously and in Grizzlies fan fashion, Paul was booed while the video played.

And it was a special presentation narrated by Ice Cube:

Connie Kirby, a longtime season ticket holder and the number one Z-Bo fan, was in attendance to witness history. Kirby said, “I think that the Grizzlies provided Z-Bo an opportunity to change his image and show his more human side. He was able to display his likability and that he is a humanitarian. I think it helped solidify his name in the NBA Hall of Fame. The passion that he brought to the game. His workhorse ability to go to the next level when needed. We could always depend on him to do his part. He made you love him with his great, affable personality.”

Kirby continued: “He meant everything to the city of Memphis, because of the things that he brought to the table and the way he handled himself while doing it. He really became an ambassador for Memphis. He embodies the Memphis mentality of ‘if you work hard, you can achieve on many levels.’”

Zach Randolph and fan Connie Kirby at the premiere of the 50 for Da City documentary (photo courtesy of Connie Kirby)

“Z-Bo will always be my favorite Grizzly hands down,” Kirby said. “It’s very fitting that 50 is the first jersey that the Memphis Grizzlies have retired.”

Former Commercial Appeal beat writer Ron Tillery weighed in on Randolph. He told the Flyer, “Zach is the most authentic person/player I’ve covered regularly next to the likes of Gary Payton, Horace Grant, and Steve Kerr. What you see is what you get and I’ve always respected that. Plus, Zach came to Memphis and was determined to turn around this city from Day 1.”

“The first time I interviewed him I asked him a lot of questions about his so-called checkered past. He stopped me and said ‘Why are you asking me these questions?’ I said I was told to and this is the only time I’ll do this. Zach was respectful and professional and then he proceeded to go kick ass for Memphis and change the minds of naysayers who didn’t know his game and didn’t know his heart. Because the Memphis media did what they often do and judged the man without even getting to know him.” 

Tillery added, “Zach was different by how he became the franchise player in Memphis. I covered Michael Jordan during the Bulls’ second three-peat. I covered Gary Payton in his prime with Seattle. They were players who dominated on the perimeter. Zach was just a beast on the block and on the boards. He was a good teammate and never shied away from big moments just like the all-time greats, Zach got the party started in Memphis by being the best player on the floor and he did it on the low block. Jordan and Payton had enforcers. Zach was everything for the Grizzlies, including the enforcer. He gave the team toughness and an identity. That’s the difference.”

He went on to say, “The best era of Grizzlies basketball doesn’t happen without Zach Randolph. Don’t believe the hype about other players. Zach elevated the franchise with his elite play. Marc Gasol needed Zach to reach his level. He helped make Lionel Hollins a viable NBA head coach and kept Chris Wallace employed as a GM. He meant everything to the franchise.”

 “As for the city, Zach came up poor in a small town near Indianapolis. He knew what it was like to be Black and poor. Zach has a big heart and everything he did for Memphians — paying bills, giving his shirt off his back, etc. — came from love. He wanted to love the city all the time because the city loved him. The franchise committed to Zach and he appreciated that because it was the first time in his career that he was treated like the man. He realized that was a big responsibility, I can say the same about the city. Once fans got past the false narratives and embraced Zach, this man poured himself into this town. And I’ll always remember how much he made “regular people” feel like family every time he was in public. Zach was never above his following.”

Grizzlies TV analyst Brevin Knight shared his memories of Randolph as well. Knight told the Flyer, “The things that were most memorable were the battles with the Clippers and how Z-Bo in an age of athleticism he was still able to dominate never relying on it. He always stayed true to his game.”

“Z-Bo had the most synergetic relationship with this city. I don’t know how many players’ games exemplified the city in which they played as much as Z-Bo. His blue collar hard-working style of play is what the city is known for. The city opened their arms up and he became a fabric of the community with all of his philanthropic work. He embodies Memphis vs. Errrbody.”

Knight concluded “I’d like to say I enjoyed every night knowing we weren’t the flashiest team but we had a chance because of the big fella. He brought a sense of belief with the other three cornerstones. No matter how big of a star he was on the court, he was just Zach off and that’s how he made everyone feel comfortable and important. Thanks big fella!”

“It was amazing — it was motivational and I am happy for Z-Bo,” said Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks of the retirement ceremony. “It was a special thing to see. I did not get to see him; I was there the year he left, when he played for Sacramento. I know his story. I know his legacy he left in this city. I hear it — when I go to the gas station, I always hear his name. Does not matter if it is the person working there or a guy that is outside. Z-Bo left his mark on the city, and it is a special thing to see. It was motivational for me because I want to be the same way, I want to get my number in the rafters. It was just special to see.”

Grizzlies players Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. also paid tributes to Randolph.

My favorite memory of him is when he ran off the court after being ejected from the game and Tony Allen popped his collar in Game 6 against Clippers in 2013. One of the greatest moments in Grizzly history was witnessed.

Z-Bo will always hold the title of King of Memphis, to me. Off the court, he was a beloved figure in the community. He has a sincere concern for the welfare of others. It’s not just a photo op when he gives back. A lot of people knew that it was genuine. You’d hear about him doing nice things for people when they weren’t expecting it even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

“I’m going to be part of this city forever,” Randolph said. “I wouldn’t trade it for nothing in the world.” 

Yes, Z-Bo and Memphis wouldn’t trade you for nothing in the world, either. Congratulations, 50 for da City, you made us proud and it has been an honor.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Drop Fifth Straight Game

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

On Friday night, before a sell-out crowd, the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Sacramento Kings, 104–101. Memphis has now lost five straight games and hasn’t won since February 12 (against the Portland Trail Blazers before the All-Star Break).

The Grizzlies still hold a slim lead for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, as they fell to 28–31. The team has struggled without Jaren Jackson, Jr. (knee injury) and Brandon Clarke (hip).

And yet, with five consecutive losses, Coach Taylor Jenkins is still pleased with his team’s effort, especially in the final period. Jenkins said after the game, “Very proud of our guys. The way that we fought in that fourth quarter to give ourselves a chance to win a ballgame.” 

He added, “I hit them after the game and said, ‘We have to play like that from the start of the game.’ I thought we came out playing pretty well in that first quarter, definitely could have played a whole lot better, but that second and third quarter we kind of just had a little let-down there. But that fourth quarter, just the intensity that they played with  —  the fight, the grit  —  that’s what we’re going to need right now.”

“The guys are finding a way,” Jenkins continued. “Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a win tonight  —  credit to the Kings. We threw a couple [of ] different things at them. They just made the right plays at the right time. Great passes to the roller, to shooters. They made the shots that they needed. We fell short a little bit with a couple of shots there in the fourth quarter and throughout the game, but the resolve and the competitiveness from our guys were great tonight.”

Dillon Brooks led Memphis with a season-high 32 points, before fouling out late in the fourth after playing nearly 40 minutes. Ja Morant added 20 points and 11 assists to mark his 10th double-double of the season. No other rookie in the league has more than five double-doubles of the season, according to Grizzlies PR.

Morant talked about how the team is processing the losing streak: “I feel like a lot of people are panicking; not us though  —  we know there are going to be bumps in the road. We know we’re going to face adversity. We’re just going to continue, keep our head high, keep positive energy, and just try to go out and get something good out of it. We’ve learned a lot from the games after the break, playing 48 minutes, having to compete, and knowing we have a target on our back.”

Josh Jackson led the Grizzlies’ reserves with nine points, three rebounds, and three assists. Jenkins spoke about Jackson’s contribution to the team: “He’s [Jackson] getting better every single day. Continuing to find his comfort zone. As we’ve said, he just has to keep making an impact on the defensive end shooting the three, attacking downhill.

Jenkins added, “He’s playing with force on the offensive end, and he’s playing actively on the defensive end. That’s what we expect out of him. So the more he does that, obviously, for any of our guys, you make an impact on both ends that is winning basketball, you obviously earn more opportunities.”

Grizzlies Drop Fifth Straight Game

The Other Guys

De’Aaron Fox led the Sacramento with 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds on 10-of-19 shooting, as the Kings moved to 25–34 on the season. Harry Giles III chipped in 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists on 8-of-14 shooting. Nemanja Bjelica posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Buddy Hield added a bench-high 14 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. 

HBCU Night and Memphis Legend Zach Randolph Returned Home

The Grizzlies honored HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) throughout the night. 

Grizzlies Drop Fifth Straight Game (3)

Grizzlies Drop Fifth Straight Game (4)

“50 for the City,” Mr. Zach Randolph — respectfully known as ZBo — returned to Memphis for the first time since his retirement announcement in December. Randolph and former Grizzlies player Tony Allen will be ambassadors for the Grizzlies. There hasn’t been a formal announcement by the team regarding the details.

Grizzlies Drop Fifth Straight Game (2)

Grizzlies Drop Fifth Straight Game (5)

Up Next
The Grizzlies have to get over the Kings game quickly,  because Saturday the team is back in action against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum. And this one won’t be easy. Tip-off is at 7 pm CST.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

The Josh Jackson Project: Too Much for Memphis?

CREDIT: NBA.com

NBA.com

Josh Jackson

As a reclamation project, Josh Jackson might be too much, even for Memphis.

I’m a sucker for reclamation projects. I admittedly have a soft spot for hard-heads. Whether it is a young person from the inner city who needs guidance and direction or a star athlete who needs a fan-base to embrace him, I have always been a fan of potential success stories. I am also a fan of — and cover — a team in a city that has prided itself on being a haven of reinvention for its athletes, a place for second chances. Grizzlies fans embrace troubled players and don’t mind being called “The Island Of Misfit Toys.”

Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Lance Stephenson, James Johnson, and Joakim Noah all come to mind as players who came to Memphis with off-the-court issues, controversial backgrounds, negative reputations, or some sort of low expectations, in general. Once they got to Memphis, the city worked its mojo and they became fan favorites, on and off the court. Maybe it’s some mystical magic that the city possesses. It shouldn’t be surprising for a place that has as much soul and culture as this one does.

Now the Grizzlies have another potential feel-good story in newly acquired Josh Jackson, who was acquired in a trade this week with the Suns. Memphis sent Kyle Korver and Jevon Carter to Phoenix for Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, and two second-round picks. Jackson was the fourth overall pick just two years ago in the 2017 NBA draft. Many figured Jackson would be a key part of the Suns future, but the team cooled on him because of his off-court antics. The Grizzlies were willing to take him, perhaps in order to get a chance to assess him on their own. Or perhaps just to use him as a piece in another deal.

Jackson’s list of blemishes is pretty long. It includes flashing gun-like hand gestures at a fan, being arrested for fleeing and resisting arrest (after trying to enter a VIP section of a music festival led to a verbal altercation), smoking marijuana around his infant daughter, skipping out on a scheduled autograph session for Suns fans, vandalizing a female student-athlete’s car after a verbal altercation while in college at Kansas, and fleeing the scene of an accident after backing into a parked car. He has also been labeled as “un-coachable” and gained a reputation for shying away from his defensive calling card to focus (unsuccessfully) on being a scoring threat.

Jackson hasn’t been accused of murder or anything like that, but he has shown a lack of self-awareness, as well as anger-management issues. That’s a scary combination for someone who’s only 22, with more than enough resources and money to get him into more trouble. But Jackson has an issue that separates him from previous reclamation projects in Memphis, and that’s his age.

Zach Randolph is the ultimate go-to for fans and media to reference as an example of how reclamation projects in Memphis can work. A major difference between Randolph and Jackson, however, is that Randolph was 28 when the Grizzlies acquired him. Jackson is only 22. Randolph was “aging out” of most of his negative habits, while Jackson could just be entering his prime. His most recent legal woes, as well as his being traded, could serve as a wake-up call, or it could just be a sign of more trouble to come. He’s a troubled young player who would join a Grizzlies team populated with even younger — and impressionable — players.

The Grizzlies have options with Jackson. These include trading him again, buying him out, or stretching his contract. But they also have to make a decision soon about the final year of Jackson’s rookie deal, which ends in 2020. His 2020-21 contract becomes fully guaranteed if the Grizzlies decide to pick up their option on him by its October 31st deadline. The hope is that Jackson will show signs of being focused on making better decisions off the court, and can contribute on the court in a way that lives up to the expectations set for him as the number-four overall pick. If he succeeds, Memphis and its fans can proudly add Jackson to their collection of successful reclamation projects.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Defeat Kings 112-104

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

If you watched Friday night’s home game against the Sacramento Kings, you know the first quarter was the Jaren Jackson show. On the first offensive possession of the game, the Grizzlies pitched it to Jackson in the low post, and he scored as easily as one pours syrup on a pancake.
Larry Kuzniewski

The Grizzlies leapt out to a 15-2 run, fueled by Jackson’s nine points, including a made three-pointer and at-will scoring in the post. It helps when your post footwork is ahead of schedule and your touch is softer than an infant’s hair. Nemanja Bjelica couldn’t guard him for beans, and had a rough go while guarded by Jackson on the other end.

Grizzlies Defeat Kings 112-104 (2)

Memphis also benefited from 66.7 percent three-point shooting in the first quarter, with Jackson, Garrett Temple, Omri Casspi, and MarShon Brooks each sinking a three.

The Kings got going near the end of the first period, however, with help from a speedy and electric De’Aaron Fox. He converted on a buzzer-beater to get the Kings to within one point heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was defined by two nasty Wayne Selden dunks. Selden attacked the rim three times from the arc, finishing with two jams and an and-one elevated lay-in.

Fans were also treated to more of Jackson versus the Kings’ number-two draft pick, Marvin Bagley, and Jackson dominated the matchup. In one sequence, Jackson blocked Bagley in the post (he ate his lunch y’all), and finished over him on the other end.

Did the Kings fumble the Bagley by not drafting Jaren Ja… *special ops shoots me in the neck with a tranquilizer.

The Kings took the lead briefly in the middle of the second quarter, but the Grizzlies battled back and went into halftime up 62-51, after Conley hit a floater with 3.4 seconds left. Fox got a shot off on the other end, but Jaren Jackson blocked it at the buzzer.
Larry Kuzniewski

The Grizzlies never trailed in the second half. On one of the first possessions of the third quarter, Conley no-look deflected a pass that resulted in Marc Gasol getting fouled at the other end. The Grizzlies defense is scary good.

Memphis went back to their bread and butter to start the game in the second half, tossing the ball down low to Jackson and letting him feast. The Kings simply had no answer for him. He set his NBA career high in points (27), converting an alley-oop lob from MarShon Brooks. Jackson also finished the night with six boards (four of which came in the first quarter).

In his postgame press conference, Coach J.B. Bickerstaff lauded Jackson’s performance and potential, saying: “He’s just figuring it out. That’s the blessing of it, is that he doesn’t even understand how good he truly is yet.”

Bickerstaff didn’t finish the game with Jackson, however, opting to sit him in the final minutes, again. Familiar face Troy Williams made some clutch plays for the Kings and sank a couple triples down the stretch, and Sacramento got within three points in the final minutes of the game, but the Grizzlies managed to pull away just enough to close it out.

Two possessions at the end stood out. One featured the Kings’ Iman Shumpert getting a second-chance opportunity in the corner. He waved off his teammates and shot a turnaround three-point airball over Garrett Temple.

The other happened when the Kings trailed by three with 1:41 to go, and an ultra-aggressive Gasol drove through all sorts of contact and for an and-one finish. Gasol would end the night with 19 points and 15 rebounds, and set the Grizzlies’ franchise rebounding record (with former record-holder Zach Randolph in attendance, no less!).
Larry Kuzniewski

Conley had another solid scoring night, tallying 19 points on 7-16 shooting. He only hit 1-4 from three, but facilitated the offense well and notched six assists. It must be nice for both Conley and Gasol to be able to feed the rock to Jackson to start the game and the second half, and let him get his own buckets without either of the Grizzlies’ elder statesmen having to exert much energy.

De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield led the way for the Kings, combining for 35 points. Fox finished the game with a game-high 10 assists, and was the fiery engine for the Kings’ offense for most of the night. Their high level of play wasn’t enough to earn the win on this go against the Grizzlies, however.

The Grizzlies were back to their usual ways of protecting the rock in this game, turning the ball over only 13 times to the Kings’ 21. Memphis also won the battle in the paint 54-42.

One weak spot for the Grizzlies was their free throw shooting. Conley missed consecutive free throws for the second time this season, and the team shot only 62.5 percent on 24 shots from the charity stripe. The Grizzlies also continued to give up a hearty helping of open looks from deep, and are lucky that the Kings converted on just 12 of their 33 attempts.

While ZBo has yet to suit up for the Kings this season, nothing was going to stop him from seeing his daughter sing in the Lausanne choir at FedExForum Friday night. He also caught up with old teammates, coaches, and FedExForum employees.

Grizzlies Defeat Kings 112-104

The Grizzlies return to action when they take on the Jimmy Butler-less Timberwolves in Minnesota on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies trade Deyonta Davis and Ben McLemore for Garrett Temple

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Deyonta Davis and Ben McLemore are Grizzlies no longer. Both arrived in Memphis as physically and athletically-gifted prospects with loads of unreckoned potential at a low cost. Deyonta Davis had been a projected lottery pick, and tantalized with the makings of a modern rim-protector that could roll to the rim on the pick-and-roll. Ben McLemore was the 7th pick in his draft, and shot nearly 40 percent from deep in the season before joining the Grizzlies.

Why did Deyonta fall so far in the draft? Tom Izzo blamed his shyness. Why didn’t McLemore live up to expectations in Sacramento? He languished under four head coaches in the turbulent Boogie era. Both were good buy-low bets on tremendous potential. Neither worked out, and it was time to move on.

Larry Kuzniewski

Deyonta Davis had ample opportunity to show progress as the only real backup center once Wright left. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to use his size, strength, and bounce to his advantage, with defenders routinely pushing him out of position for rebounds, or Davis never making a strong enough effort to get into good positioning. He may have fared better had he played more games with the Grizzlies’ developmental league affiliate, but roster constraints in Memphis didn’t afford him that opportunity.

If he’d been here during the Zach Randolph years, perhaps ZBO would’ve imbued Davis with his fiery drive to rassle for position and clean the glass. Those guys should really link up! But it was time to pull the plug on DD’s time in Memphis, especially with Triple-J on the horizon. At least we have the memory of Vince Carter building Deyonta a room in his house (that Davis never visited).

Grizzlies trade Deyonta Davis and Ben McLemore for Garrett Temple (2)

Ben McLemore’s time with the Grizzlies feels like the distant memory of a hazy dream. He broke his foot in a pickup game before the season began, and by the time he returned from injury and joined the team, Conley was injured and the season was a wash. BMac does leave Memphis with one lasting impression, maybe the most memorable play of the last few seasons.

Grizzlies trade Deyonta Davis and Ben McLemore for Garrett Temple

The Grizzlies have turned the page on longshots for high potential this offseason. For now, it appears they’re done with rolling the dice on unproven players that theoretically could widly outperform their contracts. Instead, they’re turning to players seen as “sure things” that are safer bets. We saw this when the Grizzlies signed Kyle Anderson. We’re seeing it again with Memphis shipping off DD and BMac for Garrett Temple. They want players who understand what they can do, and who can operate at a high level within a team context. They want guys who are reliable and have a high basketball IQ.

Adding Garrett Temple while shaving down the roster size and shipping off two players that won’t work in this Grizzlies era is a win, even if they had to pay Sacramento to do it. He’s a good 3-point shooter, and has proven his efficacy with good teams before joining the Kings. He’s a much better bet to improve after leaving Sacramento than McLemore ever was. I think the Grizzlies are on the right track picking solid players that should improve the stability of their rotations.

Categories
From My Seat Sports

An Athlete’s “Third Death”

Thirteen days before Christmas in 1980 — I was 11 years old — I received quite the opposite of a Santa Claus delivery. My dad came into my room, grim look on his face. “The Cardinals have traded Ted Simmons, son. I’m sorry.” Had my parents chopped up our tree, one limb at a time, it wouldn’t have been more painful. My favorite baseball team had told my favorite baseball player that his services were no longer required. Worse, my favorite baseball player would play for a team I cared nothing about (the Milwaukee Brewers). The mind of an 11-year-old doesn’t have programming for this kind of loss.

I’ve been thinking of Ted Simmons since July 4th, when we learned Zach Randolph signed a free-agent deal that will transform him from a Memphis Grizzly into a Sacramento King. (I can’t get over the irony of this, Z-Bo departing a city that loves its “kings” to become one himself in California.) It’s long been said that a professional athlete dies two deaths, the first when he is forced to stop playing the game that made him famous. From a fan’s viewpoint, though, you could say an athlete actually dies three deaths, the first when he departs a franchise that has embraced him for as many as eight years (as Memphis did Randolph).

This isn’t to say Zach Randolph is any less our Z-Bo. Not even close. Eight years of memories stack much too high for a change of uniform to erase a relationship. (When Simmons homered at Busch Stadium — for the Brewers — in Game 1 of the 1982 World Series, I couldn’t help but smile. And my beloved Cardinals were crushed that night.) Randolph’s next two years in Sacramento will do no more to tarnish his Memphis era than the years he spent prior to arriving here (largely forgettable seasons in Portland, New York, and L.A.). The Grizzlies have already announced that Randolph’s number 50 will be raised to the rafters at FedExForum, the most permanent love note a community can send a former player.

But there is a mourning period. Those of us “seasoned” fans have experienced versions of this separation, though it’s unlikely any Griz backer would compare Z-Bo’s departure to a previous player’s exit. He’s that special. And it’s the 11-year-old fans who surely hurt the most. I hate the image — and I’ve seen it — of a child shooting hoops in his or her driveway, wearing a number-50 jersey. Tugs at my heartstrings. The jersey should be worn with pride and for the happy memories, to say the least. But it now carries a component of loss. Past tense. Z-bounds gone by.

Larry Kuzniewski

Zach Randolph started the second half and almost made a miraculous comeback happen.

It could get 
worse, of course, for Grizzly fans this month. It appears the franchise is ready to part ways with 35-year-old Tony Allen, the Grindfather himself. Should Allen end up in a Clippers uniform — gasp! — the Memphis “core four” will have been reduced by half. In other words, the core four will be no more. If Randolph became the backbone the Grizzlies franchise desperately needed in 2009, Allen brought soul to a team that had been more buttoned-up than most things Memphis. He brought edge and humor with his All-Defense presence, and a region fell further in love.

The Grizzlies will play on. Few NBA teams can claim as talented a tandem as Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. The newly acquired Tyreke Evans is a kind of offensive threat Allen never was. Should Chandler Parsons regain his health . . . well, it’s possible. Right? The local NBA outfit will be very different next season, but this is no tanking.

And departures can bring new friendships. Almost precisely a year after the Cardinals dealt Simmons to Milwaukee, St. Louis shipped another of my favorite players, Garry Templeton, to San Diego in an exchange of shortstops. You can now have your picture taken next to Ozzie Smith’s statue in St. Louis.

Categories
From My Seat Sports

Villainy, Thy Name is Spurs

Once, there was Louisville. When Memphis State basketball (as the program was then known) ruled this city’s landscape, the Louisville Cardinals played the role of arch villain. There was a glorious, 10-year stretch (1982-91) in which the Tigers and Cardinals faced each other in the Metro Conference tournament nine times, after having played twice already in the regular season. It was pure hate. Milt Wagner and the McCray brothers against Doom Haynes and Keith Lee, games that served as prelude to deep NCAA tournament runs for each program.

Alas, Louisville remains a Final Four threat annually, now from the most prestigious neighborhood in college basketball, the Atlantic Coast Conference. To say the Memphis program has taken a different direction would be an exercise in sugarcoating. There is no more Tigers-Cardinals rivalry . . . except for the emotion those distant memories stir.

But we now have the NBA. We have the Memphis Grizzlies, embarking on their seventh playoff run in seven years. And we have the San Antonio Spurs. Arch villains by a few measures. These dastardly ballers even wear black.

Do you find the prolonged success of the NFL’s New England Patriots tiring, oppressive in their Tom Brady-driven dominance for the better part of two decades? Well, the Patriots can best be described as the San Antonio Spurs of football. Since Gregg Popovich’s first full season as head coach (1997-98), the Spurs’ lowest winning percentage for a single season is .610. (They went merely 50-32 in 2009-10.) San Antonio has won five NBA titles over the last 20 years, and has won at least 50 games 18 years in a row (including the lockout-shortened 66-game season of 2011-12).

The Spurs lost one of the 10 or 15 greatest players in NBA history before the 2016-17 season (Tim Duncan), and went 61-21, second only to Golden State in the Western Conference. Turns out Duncan is not actually a cyborg; it’s the franchise itself that is machine-built and operated, programmed for the kind of sustained success 29 other NBA franchises consider fantasy talk. They now have their own Gasol brother, Pau appearing in the postseason with his fourth franchise, though toe-to-toe with his kid brother for the first time.

Over their 16 years in Memphis, the Grizzlies have enjoyed exactly four 50-win seasons. They’ve yet to reach the NBA Finals (thanks to the Spurs, who swept Memphis in the 2013 Western Conference finals). In nine previous appearances in the postseason, the Grizzlies have been bounced by San Antonio three times. These are bad dudes who play very good basketball, commanded by a man who — even with five rings — is known (sometimes celebrated) for abrasive brevity with on-air reporters, and resting his stars when he damn well pleases, TV ratings be damned. Patriot coach Bill Belichick bows to Gregg Popovich in the Temple of Arrogance.

Memphis will always have 2011, of course. Shane Battier’s corner jumper beat the Spurs in San Antonio (Game 1) for the first playoff win in Grizzlies history. The underdog (8th seed) proceeded to eliminate the top-seeded Spurs in six games. (The 18-point beat-down of the Spurs in Game 4 remains the loudest crowd I’ve heard at FedExForum.) Memphis has lost all nine of its playoff games against the Spurs since that upset six years ago, perhaps a sign that a Faustian deal was, in fact, struck somewhere along the San Antonio River Walk before Battier’s 2011 heroics.

Villains are good. At least in sports, where the stakes are merely trophies and endorsement deals. Memphis-Louisville may be a thing of the past. Soon enough, the Grizzlies’ “Core Four” (first names only: Mike, Marc, Tony, and Zach) may be a thing of the past. But for a couple of weeks, we’ll see some real animosity on the hardwood. No need for “Memphis vs. Errrbody” when we have the Memphis Grizzlies vs. the San Antonio Spurs.

• Sportswriters track milestones, including — once in a great while — our own. This is the 700th column to be posted under the “From My Seat” banner on this site. When my first column went up (in February 2002), Stubby Clapp was preparing for his fourth season of back-flipping to second base for the Memphis Redbirds and Mike Conley was in the 8th grade. The column has been a happy distraction — for 15 years now — from my regular chores as managing editor for Memphis magazine. I’ve enjoyed hearing from readers — touched, angry, or in-between — over the years, and remain grateful for the loyal, engaged readership the Flyer has cultivated for the better part of three decades. So thanks for reading. And if you’re new to the dance, get on the floor and join the fun.