One of the toughest players in the NBA called it a career recently as former New York Knicks star Zach Randolph retires.
The legacy ofZach Randolphwill mostly be remembered for his highly productive years with the Memphis Grizzlies. Many diehard New York Knicks fans will remember his one season with the team as part of the failed ”Twin Towers” tandem with centerEddy Curry.
Randolph announced via social media his intentions on retiring from the NBA instead of attempting a comeback. He was the centerpiece to the ”Grind City” seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies and earned two All-Star appearances. The 17-year veteran started his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before being acquired by New York in a deal orchestrated by then team president Isiah Thomas.
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On June 28th, 2007, the Knicks traded guardSteve Francisand forwardChanning Fryeto the Trail Blazers for forward Randolph and guardsDan DickauandFred Jones. The plan was to pair Randolph with Curry and become a dominating low post focused team. Each player put up strong individual numbers, but the Knicks would continue to struggle and lose consistently.
Randolph played 69 games with the Knicks during the 2007–08 season, averaging an impressive 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. In his time with the Knicks, Randolph averaged 18 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. The Knicks made a change in the front office to begin Z-Bo’s second season marking an end to the Thomas era in New York.
On November 22, 2008, new team president Donnie Walsh began dismantling Thomas’s salary work in hopes of luring soon to be free agentLeBron James.Jamal Crawfordwent to the Golden State Warriors for Al Harrington, and Randolph went to the Los Angeles Clippers along withMardy CollinsforTim ThomasandCuttino Mobley.
Randolph questioned the decision to trade him from the Knicks in a quick quote via theNew York Daily Newsback in 2010.
"“If they get LeBron (it was worth it),” Randolph says. “If they don’t get him, I wonder. I don’t know.”"
The time in New York wasn’t incredibly memorable because of the losses, but Randolph built his toughness and grit that would eventually make him infamous around the league.
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