Memphis Grizzlies: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

4. Mike Bibby (PG) — No. 2 pick in 1998 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Grizzlies, 1998-2001):  214 GP, 14.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 44.5 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 76.6 FT%

Mike Bibby had a one of the better non-All-Star careers in the NBA, playing in 1,001 games over 14 seasons. That career began in Vancouver in 1998.

Bibby was an all-conference player at Arizona when the Grizzlies drafted him. Nothing changed once he put on his professional jersey. As the starting point guard, Bibby averaged 13.2 points, 6.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game in his first year. Those numbers earned him All-Rookie First Team honors in 1999.

Bibby’s best season in Vancouver was his last: 2000-01. He averaged 15.9 points, 1.3 steals and a career-high 8.4 assists per game. Bibby was a master distributor by this point, finishing fourth in the league in assists per game. He handed out 18 assists three times that season. Those instances are tied for second-most in a game in Grizzlies history.

The following summer, Bibby was traded with Brent Price to the Kings for Jason Williams and Nick Anderson. Bibby would spend seven-and-a-half seasons in Sacramento. His production continued to improve until his peak during the 2005-06 season.

Starting from Game 1 in Vancouver, Bibby began a streak of 675 consecutive starts. That streak lasted through the 2006-07 season. He also remains the Grizzlies’ franchise leader in assists per game (7.8). Mike Bibby was a speedy playmaking point guard. His legacy is bigger in Sacramento, but he made his name known as a Grizzly.