Let’s try and make a consensus top 5 all time Memphis Grizzlies.
Inspired by the “team GOAT’s” post in r/nba; I think most would agree Marc is probably our all time best guy all things considered, just wanted to hear some takes.
I’m especially curious about thoughts on the pre-GNG days, as that was basically before my time and there wasn’t a single playoff win for us until GNG.
Also, I’m kinda going off of the “career/team achievements” way of looking at it, like the r/nba post did; for example, Kobe beats Bron for the Lakers because of his 5 titles with LA vs 1 and all those years with the Lakers, and someone like Allen Iverson, however talented, is not someone to be seriously considered for us here.
Posted Jan 20, 2022, 7:52 PM UTC
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Again, I’m 21 and my Grizz memory basically goes back to 2009-ish and as a child it’s obviously not as solid as like, the last couple years. That being said, I’d probably say something like this (feel free to argue).
Marc Gasol - don’t think there’s much of an argument against him at 1 considering his two way prowess. 3 all star games, an NBA first team, a DPOY, and most win shares.
Zach Randolph - maybe Mike has a shout here, but ZBo was the only other all star on the GNG squads, the leading scoring option, and is far more representative of the culture that the Grizz developed. I feel like that is definitely a factor that isn’t nothing.
Mike Conley - Gotta be here for me; sure, maybe Ja’s season this year beats any Mike year, but I just fundamentally can’t place Ja above until he can match the 2013 run. Mike is basically a captain in a way for 7 straight playoff years in a stacked west as well. Maybe that’s dumb line in the sand for me, but it just would feel wrong to discount everything Mike did here so quickly.
Ja Morant - Maybe this is rash, but he’s definitely high already. On pace for the greatest individual season in the history of the franchise, potentially adding an MIP to a ROY, and on pace for the all star game and all NBA team in just his 3rd year. He’ll almost certainly rise, the question is how quickly you want to anoint him.
Tony Allen - Maybe this is dumb and Shareef or Pau should be here, but I’ll go back to the culture argument; Tony Allen minted “Grit n Grind” and is one of the greatest defensive players of his generation, anchoring the identity of the most successful Grizzlies stretch in franchise history. Pau’s stats are gaudier, sure, but he never won a single playoff game. Am I considering team achievements too much? Should something like culture even matter in this? Maybe not, but that’s what I’ve decided. He will get retired one day, and Pau will not. That is all I know.
This is the way. I don’t think Ja at 4th is too rash at all, especially considering he’s already won more playoff games than Pau ever did here. He’s bringing more national attention to the Grizzlies than anyone ever has.