After being established in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies and moving to Memphis in 2001, the Memphis Grizzlies are one of the NBA's newest teams. Over the years, the squad has seen ups and downs, but it has also given birth to some of the league's most dynamic and brilliant players. The finest of the best, though, is who? Who are the best five Grizzlies draft picks of all time? Since there are so many things to take into account, including numbers, accomplishments, longevity, and effect, the answer to this issue is not simple. However, we'll make an effort to score them using both these factors and our own judgments. Following are the top 5 players drafted by the Grizzlies.
Mike Bibby
In 1998, the Grizzlies selected Mike Bibby in the second round out of Arizona. He played for the team for three seasons, scoring 15.6 points and dishing out 6.5 assists while shooting 39.4% from outside the arc. He aided the club each year and was chosen to the All-Rookie First club in 1999. He was also a standout in crucial situations, scoring many game-winning baskets for the Grizzlies.
Rudy Gay
In 2006, the Houston Rockets selected Rudy Gay out of Connecticut with the eighth overall pick in exchange for Shane Battier, who was then dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies. He played for the team for six and a half seasons, averaging 17.9 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc. He could play both forward positions and make his own shots, making him a versatile scorer.
Mike Conley
The Grizzlies selected Mike Conley out of Ohio State in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. He played for the team for 12 seasons, scoring 14.9 points and dishing out 5.7 assists while shooting 44% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. With the Grizzlies, he was selected to one All-Star team, three NBA All-Star teams, and seven postseason appearances, including three trips to the Western Conference Semifinals and one to the Western Conference Finals.
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the third round out of Spain in 2001. On draft night, he was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He played for the team for six and a half seasons, averaging 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 50.9% from the field and 26.3% from beyond the arc. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2002 and made one All-Star team in 2006 while playing with the Grizzlies.
Ja Morant
From Murray State, Ja Morant was selected by the Grizzlies in the second round of the 2019 draft. He has played for the team for four seasons and has averaged 22.4 points and 8.1 assists while shooting 46.6% from the field and 32.1% from beyond the arc. In addition to being named to two All-Star teams and one All-NBA squad with the Grizzlies in 2022 and 2023, he won the Rookie of the Year title in 2020. The Grizzlies have made the playoffs four times in a row under the leadership of Morant, including a surprising upset of the top-seeded Utah Jazz in the 2023 playoffs' first round. Several franchise marks for points, assists, steals, and made three-pointers have also been broken by him.
Must Read |
