Memphis Grizzlies: Appreciation For Zach Randolph’s Late-Career Improvement
It’s amazing to think that just four years ago Zach Randolph was traded for Quentin Richardson. Since Z-Bo left the Los Angeles Clippers and came to Memphis, he has helped revitalize a Grizzlies franchise that was heavily scrutinized for only receiving Marc Gasol and a couple other minor piece for his older brother, Pau, just a handful of years earlier.
Randolph began his career with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2001 after being selected with the 19th pick of the 2001 NBA Draft. In his first season, the young big man played sparingly, appearing in just 41 games. The following season, Randolph’s playing time was increased, but he still posted pedestrian averages of 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
In his third season, Randolph broke out, averaging 20.1 points and 10.5 boards per game for a declining Blazers’ team. By the 2006-07 season, Z-Bo had asserted himself as a statistical success, averaging a career-high 23.6 points per game for a Portland team that won just 32 games. At this point in his career, Randolph was considered a black hole; a big man with all the tools to anchor a frontcourt, but without the sense to translate his talents into wins.
In June 2007, Randolph was traded to the New York Knicks for Steve Francis and Channing Frye. At this point, the Knicks were an absolute joke. The once-proud New York franchise was in the depths of their Isiah Thomas-induced plummet to the bottom of the league, aimless and helpless despite an absurdly high payroll. In his lone full season in New York, Randolph posted gaudy averages once again, but it was the same old story: good numbers, lots of losses.
Eleven games into the 2008-09 season, Randolph was shipped off to the Clippers with Mardy Collins for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. Z-Bo played just 39 games for the Clips, averaging 21.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, but once again playing for a cellar dweller, as the Clippers won just 19 games.
Finally, when it seemed as though Randolph had reached his low point—getting traded for Quentin Richardson’s contract is pretty low— things finally turned around for the burly former Michigan State Spartan. In Lionel Hollins’ first season in Memphis, the upstart Grizzlies finished just two games under .500, and all of a sudden it seemed as though a starting lineup of Mike Conley Jr., O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Randolph and Marc Gasol could ascend through the Western Conference’s ranks.
In the 2010-11 season, Randolph posted a career-high in rebounds with 12.2 per game, as well as pouring in 20.1 points a night for a Grizzlies team that found itself in April’s festivities. It was in that season when everyone started to take notice of the changes in Randolph’s game. Z-Bo was no longer catching 18 feet from the basket before holding the ball for a few seconds, only to hoist up an effortless fade away. Instead, he started fighting for deep position almost every time down the court and like his teammate Marc Gasol, helped run the offense out of the high post with a collection of quick jab-step moves and slick passes. In the playoffs, the Randolph-led Grizz beat the aging San Antonio Spurs in a rare 8-1 upset, before bowing out to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the second round.
The following year, the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, Randolph missed most of the season with an injury, playing in just 28 games and starting just eight of them, as Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies to their second consecutive playoff berth. However, Memphis failed to make it past the first round, falling to the Clippers in seven games.
Last season, Randolph and Gasol anchored a Grizzlies team that turned heads with their defense and unselfishness. Randolph led all Grizzlies with 15.4 points per game (not including Rudy Gay, who was traded mid-year) and Memphis finished with its highest win total, 56, in franchise history. While some fans might have despised watching Memphis win games 87-78, most NBA people will tell you that it was a beautiful sight watching the Grizz win games with shutdown defense and an inside-out offense.
It’s refreshing to see a player reinvent himself late in his career, especially after they’ve already been monetarily satisfied. Randolph’s relentless inside play and bevy of little hooks and spins are truly a thing of art, especially in a league that has an obsession with blocked shots (DeAndre Jordan is not as good as people think) and slam dunks (DeAndre Jordan is still not that good). Randolph has a throwback style to his game, channelling his inner Kevin McHale with constant up fakes and pivots to get the defender leaning before putting up a shot without jumping higher than the width of a piece of paper.
Next season, at age 32, Grizzlies fans can expect much of the same from the once-maligned but now beloved big man. I wouldn’t expect first-time head coach Dave Joerger to vary the high-low offensive system too much, although he will probably add a few wrinkles to give the young guards a few more scoring chances. While I don’t feel as though the Grizzlies will get as far in the playoffs this season as they did last year, I do understand that a year of honing their defense-first game could lead to further success, as well as more frustration for opposing teams who aren’t used to facing such a stifling defense.
Like so many other fans, I’m looking forward to watching Randolph beat up on guys who can jump higher, run faster, have longer arms and leaner bodies (like DeAndre Jordan); I know I can’t be the only one who feels that way.