Zach Randolph's name and basketball legacy are forever in Grind City's sports record books.
On Wednesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies legend was officially inducted into the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame, becoming the first former player in the franchise's history to obtain the recognition.
Memphis sports icon
Z-Bo headlines this year's class of the city's Sports Hall of Fame, joining the likes of pro football Hall of Famer Reggie White, Memphis Tigers basketball star Andre Turner, broadcast icon Jarvis Greer, and former racquetball superstar Andy Roberts.
Former Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and coach Lionel Hollins appeared as representatives of the organization at the grand event and later expressed their support for Randolph.
"This is home. What do you give to this community, what does this community mean to me, and what do I mean to this community? It's a perfect fit. I love this community. I love the people here,' Randolph said, who joins Hollins (2021) and Hubie Brown (2023) among Grizzlies royalties who obtained the enshrinement. "It's Grit and Grind forever, man."
Ex-Grizzlies star Tony Allen also attended Z-Bo's induction; they will soon witness his name being honored by the Memphis Hall of Fame.
"One of the things he's going to do is he's going to show his love in the community," Allen said. "He's going to come back to the less fortunate. He will cover the places where you don't expect to see most celebrities."
An essential piece of the Grizzlies history
From the impacts and achievements he made for himself and the Grizzlies organization in the past couple of years, Z-Bo surely earned his spot in the Memphis' sports pantheon.
His arrival in the franchise in 2009 was a major revelation that kicked off a new era for Grizzlies basketball. Alongside his 'Core Four' crew of Allen, Marc Gasol, and Mike Conley, Randolph powered Memphis to sustained contention success in the past decade by making it to the playoffs for seven straight years, highlighted by the team's first-ever Conference Finals appearance in 2013.
Donning the Grizzlies uniform made Randolph a two-time All-Star named an All-NBA Third Team member in 2011. After retiring in 2019, he ultimately saw his No. 50 elevated in the FedEx Forum rafters two years later.
"I love this community, I love the people here," Randolph said. "This is home for me."
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