Zach Randolph

[GeorgeMarcus]

ZBo is one of my favorite players of all time, which is funny because he's a player archetype I generally don't buy into. At 6'9'' and 0 vertical, he was never regarded as a rim protector. While he was quicker than you might think, he wasn't an especially mobile/switchable defender you'd want defending in space.

Offensively, his midrange was solid but he wasn't a floor spacer by modern standards. He was mostly an on-ball post scorer whose greatest off-ball attribute was rebounding. His scoring efficiency was average at best and, while he could handle the ball a bit, he wasn't considered a facilitator.

The player I just described sounds like someone who would not be a positive presence on the court, and yet... ZBo was exactly that. There's ample evidence in the impact data supporting as much. He was crucial to the success of the grit-and-grind Grizzlies that dismantled teams like the '11 Spurs, '13 Clips, '13 Thunder, and '15 Blazers.

What was it about Randolph that enabled him to overcome the limitations described above? I will say this, he had beautifully soft touch around the basket that made him a joy to watch.

Watch on YouTube

[chilluminati]

His strength and mentality is the biggest thing that comes to mind when thinking about how he overcame his aerial limitations. He was like an ox, extremely strong and tough to move around. Back in an era where your 4 was perfectly capable of being a low post banger, he was one of the best. And like many 4's of yesteryear, had a reliable middy to lean back on.

Success solves a lot of problems, and having the opportunity to go to that Grizzlies team really did wonders for his reputation around the league and was a great fit with the incoming star in Marc Gasol. They used him better, put him in better positions to not be as much of a black hole.

[tsherkin]

Fun to watch. Dirty leftie, hehe. Does mess with a defender some.

Good rebounder, particularly on the offensive side. A good example of what shoulders and motor can do for you even without explosive athleticism.

Not a particularly hot scorer, but not a bad second option, and he had some good years here and there. Nice footwork. Crap middie, decent on his longer twos. Kind of a master class in how to use his body to carve space. How to get into the defender's base when he was trying to establish and hold position. Underrated skills. Just didn't have the athleticism or elite shooting to take it to the next level. He was like an 18/10 guy for his last 15 years, 52.1% TS.

But like, 2010, 2011, he was still a pretty good player with his offensive rebounding, and he was never a particularly high-turnover guy, either. He was also pretty good that last year in Portland, 2007.

Neat player.

[BlazersBroncos]

One of the softest touches I have ever seen from a big man. Elite rebounder. Mid ranged J was money.

Love a redemption arc and Zach sure had one.

[JimmyPlopper]

1. Low-Expectation Entry
Drafted 19th overall in 2001 by Portland.

Tweener body, “old man game,” not explosive — definitely not the prototype.

But he ate in that Sheed understudy role — soft touch, excellent footwork, rebounding motor.

So good that the Blazers let Rasheed go. That’s insane in retrospect.

2. The "Bad Team, Good Stats" Era
Puts up 20–10 seasons like clockwork.

But he was on chaotic rosters — Portland’s Jail Blazers, then Knicks/Clippers hell.

People saw him as:

Black hole

No defense

Can’t pass

Can’t win

The "bad contract" tag sticks, and for a while he’s just salary ballast.

3. Reinvention in Memphis
Trades to Memphis for almost nothing.

That team was ready to grow — and he gives them a gritty, lunch-pail identity.

Becomes the emotional center of Grit & Grind.

Outworks and outmuscles players more athletic than him — and starts beating contenders.

Leads Grizzlies to their first playoff series win in franchise history.

Jersey retired. Franchise legend.

4. Postscript: Still Doesn’t “Fit”
Even with all that, no one builds around a Z-Bo type.

No spacing, below-the-rim game, plays at his own pace.

He remains the poster child for players who win in spite of the mold, not because of it.

[Billl]

Pretty meh player in terms of "stars you might remember". Never liked his game.

Almost certainly would be in prison if he wasn't famous. I don't really care if you want to go out and party or whatever, but you are a multimillionaire professional athlete. Call a cab. Book a hotel. Don't drive drunk or high. Don't throw street parties in public with 2 pounds of weed. And for sure don't get yourself into any domestic violence situations. I mean, he's under investigation AGAIN. Whether it's true or not, you think he would know better than to put himself in these situations.

[JimmyPlopper]

Pretty meh player in terms of "stars you might remember". Never liked his game.

Almost certainly would be in prison if he wasn't famous. I don't really care if you want to go out and party or whatever, but you are a multimillionaire professional athlete. Call a cab. Book a hotel. Don't drive drunk or high. Don't throw street parties in public with 2 pounds of weed. And for sure don't get yourself into any domestic violence situations. I mean, he's under investigation AGAIN. Whether it's true or not, you think he would know better than to put himself in these situations.

This sound incredibly hateful lol.

[Mamba Mentality]

Watch on YouTube

Dude always played mean and wasn't shy to run his mouth. You know you're built different when you can intimidate a guy like Boogie.

"In my hood bullies get bullied."

[jowglenn]

Pretty meh player in terms of "stars you might remember". Never liked his game.

Almost certainly would be in prison if he wasn't famous. I don't really care if you want to go out and party or whatever, but you are a multimillionaire professional athlete. Call a cab. Book a hotel. Don't drive drunk or high. Don't throw street parties in public with 2 pounds of weed. And for sure don't get yourself into any domestic violence situations. I mean, he's under investigation AGAIN. Whether it's true or not, you think he would know better than to put himself in these situations.

Zach Randolph is a full on gang member, a gangster disciple...

[Masigond]

Glad for him that he could overcome those awful Knicks teams.

Watch on YouTube

[gavran]

Glad for him that he could overcome those awful Knicks teams.

Watch on YouTube

He didn't even play a season's worth of games for the Knicks.

[OkcSinceSGA]

The revisionism on Zbo is interesting. I watched his entire career. He was known as a black hole chucker his first like 10 years. He was a 20/10 guy who wasn’t efficient, didn’t play defense and was a head case on and off court. That was on multiple teams.

Then he went to Memphis and they built it into a culture with their core and he had defenders like Marc Gasol to cover up for his shortcomings. But he was always a tier 3 PF. A tier below Webber, Brand, Pau, Sheed etc in terms of impact. And definitely way below Duncan, KG, Dirk etc

[JimmyPlopper]

The revisionism on Zbo is interesting. I watched his entire career. He was known as a black hole chucker his first like 10 years. He was a 20/10 guy who wasn’t efficient, didn’t play defense and was a head case on and off court. That was on multiple teams.

Then he went to Memphis and they built it into a culture with their core and he had defenders like Marc Gasol to cover up for his shortcomings. But he was always a tier 3 PF. A tier below Webber, Brand, Pau, Sheed etc in terms of impact. And definitely way below Duncan, KG, Dirk etc

Perception of ZBo has been a constant roller coaster. Drafted late first round - then overperformed so the Blazers could shed Sheed. With the Knicks and the post-Sheed Blazers, he was both 1) learning how to add value through his game and 2) surrounded by people who were not likely to compliment him. I think it's fair to say he isn't easy to build around. But on the right team, you have someone who has the mental strength to overcome a better player in Tim Duncan in the playoffs in an 8 over 1 upset. Mental strength was a trait that helped him. A lot of guys who were a little more unsure of themselves, or would shrink in a big moment - that's not him.

[OkcSinceSGA]

The revisionism on Zbo is interesting. I watched his entire career. He was known as a black hole chucker his first like 10 years. He was a 20/10 guy who wasn’t efficient, didn’t play defense and was a head case on and off court. That was on multiple teams.

Then he went to Memphis and they built it into a culture with their core and he had defenders like Marc Gasol to cover up for his shortcomings. But he was always a tier 3 PF. A tier below Webber, Brand, Pau, Sheed etc in terms of impact. And definitely way below Duncan, KG, Dirk etc

Perception of ZBo has been a constant roller coaster. Drafted late first round - then overperformed so the Blazers could shed Sheed. With the Knicks and the post-Sheed Blazers, he was both 1) learning how to add value through his game and 2) surrounded by people who were not likely to compliment him. I think it's fair to say he isn't easy to build around. But on the right team, you have someone who has the mental strength to overcome a better player in Tim Duncan in the playoffs in an 8 over 1 upset. Mental strength was a trait that helped him. A lot of guys who were a little more unsure of themselves, or would shrink in a big moment - that's not him.

He was definitely tough mentally and physically. But as you touched on hard to build around. His Memphis career kinda redeemed his career somewhat. I think I’d classify it as a “good” not great career.

[tsherkin]

Pretty meh player in terms of "stars you might remember". Never liked his game.

Almost certainly would be in prison if he wasn't famous. I don't really care if you want to go out and party or whatever, but you are a multimillionaire professional athlete. Call a cab. Book a hotel. Don't drive drunk or high. Don't throw street parties in public with 2 pounds of weed. And for sure don't get yourself into any domestic violence situations. I mean, he's under investigation AGAIN. Whether it's true or not, you think he would know better than to put himself in these situations.

This sound incredibly hateful lol.

Is it really hateful to acknowledge a litany of major issues which would have caused HUGE issues for someone who wasn't a professional sports player? He was a delinquent for a long time, man; that doesn't get overlooked easily.

[Dacost]

I think ZBo was one those players that was physical the entire game 38 minutes of pure fighting and pushing.

Only saw a few guys been able to match his strength in that many minutes.

Steven Adams own him ever since he was drafted one of the few players who could take all the punishment.

[tsherkin]

I think ZBo was one those players that was physical the entire game 38 minutes of pure fighting and pushing.

Only saw a few guys been able to match his strength in that many minutes.

Steven Adams own him ever since he was drafted one of the few players who could take all the punishment.

Yeah, ZBo's motor and physical power were quite impressive. And yeah, Adams is also a tank with a motor. Not quite as visibly broad as Randolph, but definitely a unit.

Vaguely reminds me of guys who were lesser than Randolph but similar in build and motor like Danny Fortson and Reggie Evans.

[Karate Diop]

Zach had that Dog in 'em.

[JRoy]

Pretty meh player in terms of "stars you might remember". Never liked his game.

Almost certainly would be in prison if he wasn't famous. I don't really care if you want to go out and party or whatever, but you are a multimillionaire professional athlete. Call a cab. Book a hotel. Don't drive drunk or high. Don't throw street parties in public with 2 pounds of weed. And for sure don't get yourself into any domestic violence situations. I mean, he's under investigation AGAIN. Whether it's true or not, you think he would know better than to put himself in these situations.

This sound incredibly hateful lol.

I think his college coach said he expected to read of his untimely death in the paper.

I don’t know if that is true or not but he was part of the darkest era of Blazer basketball and he had to go.

[JimmyPlopper]

Pretty meh player in terms of "stars you might remember". Never liked his game.

Almost certainly would be in prison if he wasn't famous. I don't really care if you want to go out and party or whatever, but you are a multimillionaire professional athlete. Call a cab. Book a hotel. Don't drive drunk or high. Don't throw street parties in public with 2 pounds of weed. And for sure don't get yourself into any domestic violence situations. I mean, he's under investigation AGAIN. Whether it's true or not, you think he would know better than to put himself in these situations.

This sound incredibly hateful lol.

Is it really hateful to acknowledge a litany of major issues which would have caused HUGE issues for someone who wasn't a professional sports player? He was a delinquent for a long time, man; that doesn't get overlooked easily.

I thought the prison commentary was unnecessary in a basketball convo