Zach Rnadolph (#50) and Tony Allen (#9) of the Memphis Grizzlies look on in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, U.S., January 27, 2017. /CFP
The Memphis Grizzlies will retire the No. 9 jersey of Tony Allen and the No. 50 jersey of Zach Randolph, announced the team on Thursday.
"Grit. Grind. Forever. Dates are set to retire @aa000G9's #9 and @MacBo50's #50 jerseys this season," posted the Grizzlies on Twitter.
"It's a dream come true. The whole build-up, bringing my swagger here, the demeanor, the poise in just working every day, the grit and grind culture here … It's a complete honor, and I'm thankful, real thankful," said Allen to Grind City Media's, Chris Vernon.
Tony Allen (#9) of the Memphis Grizzles defends Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers in the game at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., January 23, 2013. /CFP
Randolph's No. 50 will be retired in the game against the Houston Rockets on December 11. Allen's No. 9 will hang up in the game against the Utah Jazz on January 28, 2022, in front of his former teammate Mike Conley who's playing for the Jazz.
The Grizzlies joined the NBA in 1995, originally from Vancouver, Canada, until they moved to Memphis in 2001. They were never the most popular team in the NBA and only made the (Western) Conference Finals once in 2013. However, the Grizzlies were also the last team you wanted to meet in the playoffs from 2011 to 2017, during which they reached the postseason for seven straight seasons.
Allen, Randolph, Conley and Marc Gasol were all with that team, playing different but integral roles. Allen, a six-time All-Defensive Team member, was always tasked with covering the opponents' perimeter ace and make them work hard to get anything. Kobe Bryant picked him for "the best defender he ever faced."
Blake Griffin (L) of the Los Angeles Clippers defends Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 11, 2012. /CFP
Conley was also an elite defender, but his duty included more offensive work. He was more like a shock worker from outside though Conley was the starting point guard of the Grizzlies. The team's true commander was Gasol, who was both the defensive pillar from inside and the offensive brain.
But the Grizzlies' lethal claws were Randolph. He already lost the athleticism of the younger age when he came to Memphis, yet that did not keep him from tipping offensive rebounds consecutively after taking the best position in the paint. He could also shoot directly from the middle range after posing a triple threat. However, Randolph's best weapon was his combination of incredible strength and soft touch. He's too strong for most defenders to tussle with when he posted up, and Randolph could always find a way to roll into the paint, blocking the defender behind him and put the ball into the basket.
The four made sure that every team that met the Grizzlies in the postseason either lose slowly and won painfully.