Former Grizzlies Who Marched to the NBA Finals

[SD2042]

The Memphis Grizzlies never appeared in the NBA Finals in their history. They do have a unique connection to the NBA Finals.
Here are the following former Grizzlies who have played for the grizzlies and won their respective championships.

James Posey- The Grizzlies traded Po-Z along with Jason Williams to the Heat in August 2005. The Heat would find themselves in a title run in the spring of 2006 behind Dwyane Wade's momentum as they faced off against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Po-Z's defense was instrumental as the Heat would eanr their first franchise NBA Title in franchise history. Po-Z would earn another NBA championship two years later as a member of the Boston Celtics in the 2007-08 season during the PGA Tour Era.

Jason Williams: Like Po-Z, Williams was part of the trade that brought him to the Heat. He along with Po-Z help Dwyane Wade earn the Heat their first franchise title in 2006. For J-Will, it would be his first and only championship he would earn.

Pau Gasol: Gasol was traded to the Lakers in February 2008 and would play alongside Kobe Bryant in three NBA Finals appearances from 2008, 09, and 10 seasons. Gasol and the Lakers would lose in the 08 NBA Finals(4-2) that feature his former Grizzlies teammate James Posey and the Celtics. Gasol and the Lakers would get their revenge against the Celtics in the 2009 NBA Finals(4-3) and in the 2010 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic(4-0)

Shane Battier: A.K.A. Captain Shane was on his second tour with the Grizzlies when he was traded back to the Grizzlies in the February 2012 trade involving Hasheem Thabeet. He finished up with season with the Grizzlies and walked into the Miami Heat where he would be part of the new Heat regime with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Shane's 3&D was crucial during the Heat's run during the back to back NBA Finals appearances against the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1) and the San Antonio Spurs(4-3) which resulted in back to back NBA Champions.


Mike Miller: Miller like Shane, played separate tours with the Grizzlies. Miller would hit up the Heat along with Shane. MM battled though injuries during his run with the Heat. He hit key crucial shots that help the Heat gain two NBA Titles during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.


Marc Gasol: He's the second Gasol brother to be traded from the Grizzlies franchise. Obviously we know the info on Gasol and the trade up north to Jurassic Park. He's now in the NBA Finals as I type this post against the Golden State Warriors. Will he be another former Grizzly who will win his first NBA Title after being traded away from the Grizzlies in the same year? We will see.

[VCfor3]

Tony Allen won with the Celtics though it was before coming to Memphis.

[SD2042]

Tony Allen won with the Celtics though it was before coming to Memphis.

That's definitely true as he was part of the 2008 Celtics team that won their 17th NBA Title alongside James Posey eleven years ago now. The Celtics defense at the time was very stifling and congesting towards the Lakers that year. The Lakers were forced out of rhythm and could not buy enough consistency to overcome the Celtics in the series.

[boogiesdad]

Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol get theirs this week.

[SD2042]

Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry is a former Grizzly. However, the angle I was coming from is former players who were traded from the Grizzlies who happen to march into the NBA Finals in the same season the trade took place. Although Lowry has made the NBA Finals, it took playing for two teams to get to his moment.


Kyle played for the Grizzlies from 2006 to 2009 when he was traded to the Rockets. The Rockets never went to the Finals while Lowry was playing for them for three seasons. Based on my initial criteria in the first post, Lowry would not count as the result.

[boogiesdad]

Marresse Speights won his first NBA championship with the Warriors after they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals in six games

[boogiesdad]

Brian Lee Cardinal won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011

[boogiesdad]

Dahntay Jones won an NBA Championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.

[boogiesdad]

Darko Milicic in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons.

[boogiesdad]

That is all I could find.

[SD2042]

That is all I could find.

You went all in on this expedition.

Looks like 12 is the official count.

[bobobolas10]

And im glad for everyone of them (except Milicic maybe. Didnt love the guy enough)

Today instagram recomended me the game 1 of the heat-okc finals, when Shane Battier was unstoppable from the 3pt line. I loved that guy. Miami Heat got 3 grizzlies and made them champions. If only we have had lebron&wade.....

From day 1 of Marc's trade, I knew we would deliver another ring to another city.

[SD2042]

And im glad for everyone of them (except Milicic maybe. Didnt love the guy enough)

Today instagram recomended me the game 1 of the heat-okc finals, when Shane Battier was unstoppable from the 3pt line. I loved that guy. Miami Heat got 3 grizzlies and made them champions. If only we have had lebron&wade.....

From day 1 of Marc's trade, I knew we would deliver another ring to another city.

Another team needs to do the same for the Grizzlies. They are due at some point. Probably in a few years now that they are rebuilding.

[boogiesdad]

That is all I could find.

You went all in on this expedition.

Looks like 12 is the official count.

Only for you SD. I googled every player that played for the Memphis Grizzlies only. I left the Vancouver edition out of it.