{"id":30001,"date":"2020-03-31T12:00:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T16:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=30001"},"modified":"2020-03-31T11:51:25","modified_gmt":"2020-03-31T15:51:25","slug":"memphis-grizzlies-all-decade-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2020\/03\/31\/memphis-grizzlies-all-decade-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Memphis Grizzlies All-Decade Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2010s were truly a rollercoaster for the Memphis Grizzlies<\/a>. The Grit and Grind era provided a lifetime worth of memories, though the ultimate downfall toward the end of the decade was painful to endure. However, going from a Western Conference Finals appearance to assembling one of the strongest young cores in the NBA in just a seven-year span is something most teams would kill for.<\/p>\n

Memphis Grizzlies All-Decade Team for the 2010s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Starters:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Assembling the all-decade starting five for the Memphis Grizzlies is easier than counting James Harden’s<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0championship rings. In fact, the starting five for the 2010s could essentially serve as an all-time starting five for the franchise. It features the three greatest players to ever suit up for Memphis, with two more fan-favorites alongside them.<\/p>\n

Point Guard: Mike Conley<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mike Conley<\/strong><\/a> is the greatest player in franchise history. Full stop. Conley is the all-time leader in points and assists and helped elevate the Grizzlies to an all-time high in the early 2010s. His criminally underrated career in Memphis may have fallen through the cracks in the national media, but hometown fans could never understate how phenomenal he was.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/vqZUOs1PSF4<\/p>\n

The end of the Grit and Grind era became official when Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz<\/a> prior to the 2019 season, but his legacy lives on.<\/p>\n

Shooting Guard: Tony Allen<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tony Allen<\/a><\/strong> defined the Grit and Grind era better than anyone else. In fact, he coined the phrase. His tenacious defense and unrelenting hustle propelled the Grizzlies on both sides of the floor, even when it didn’t show up on the scoreboard. The combination of Allen and Conley created one of the most intimidating backcourts in the entire NBA. Allen didn’t just represent the Grizzlies, but the entire city of Memphis.<\/p>\n

Small Forward: Rudy Gay<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Small Forward is the hardest position to fill for the Memphis Grizzlies All-Decade Team, but Rudy Gay<\/a><\/strong> steps up to the challenge. Though he only played for Memphis through the 2012 season, he provided a plethora of electrifying highlights during his time in Grind City. Gay provided a boost on both ends of the floor, and the Grizzlies never truly found a replacement once he left town.<\/p>\n

Power Forward: Zach Randolph<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Zach Randolph<\/strong><\/a> — better known as “ZBo” — was a hero for the Memphis Grizzlies. Though Conley may be the greatest player in franchise history, Randolph may certainly be the most important and iconic. He was somewhat of a hybrid of Tim Duncan<\/a> and Kevin Garnett<\/a> with his mid-range bag and trash-talk expertise. The Grizzlies wouldn’t have been who they became without him, and they’ll never be the same without him.<\/p>\n