Zach Randolph received a touching tribute from the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday when his new team, the Sacramento Kings, visited the Grit-and-Grind city. Randolph has been touted as a local legend in Memphis for his amazing contribution to the team and the city as a whole.

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Randolph also received a standing ovation from the fans and a lot of hugs from his former peers during the pregame festivities.

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His former teammates also gave him a warm welcome, particularly the other half of the then-Grit-and-Grind menacing frontcourt, Marc Gasol.

 

Randolph played for the Grizzlies franchise for eight seasons from 2009 to 2017 before he signed with the Kings last summer. He enjoyed some of the best seasons of his career with the franchise, including deep playoff runs against the best in the West.

Randolph rejuvenated his somewhat plummeting image upon his arrival in Memphis. From being considered as a locker room headache despite producing huge numbers, he transformed himself into a steady veteran leader who also shows his heart for the community. His story might be one of the best examples of a 180-degree turn in terms of maturity.

In the 2011 playoffs, Randolph played like a man possessed against the Hall-of-Fame-bound Tim Duncan. In Game 6 of that first-round playoff series, Randolph scored 31 points with 11 rebounds while holding Duncan to 12 points and 10 rebounds on a poo 38.5 percent shooting from the field. With that performance from the 250-pound power forward, the Grizzlies clinched the series with a 96-91 victory.

In 38 games for the Kings this season, Randolph is averaging 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while playing 25.2 minutes each outing.