Zach Randolph facts for kids
Randolph with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 16, 1981 Marion, Indiana, U.S. |
| High school | Marion (Marion, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan State (2000–2001) |
| NBA Draft | 2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Pro career | 2001–2019 |
| Career history | |
| 2001–2007 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2007–2008 | New York Knicks |
| 2008–2009 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2009–2017 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2017–2019 | Sacramento Kings |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 18,578 (16.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 10,208 (9.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,049 (1.8 apg) |
Zachary McKenley Randolph (born July 16, 1981) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He is known by his nickname "Z-Bo". Zach was a 2-time NBA All-Star. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. After college, he was picked in the 2001 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Zach played for five different teams during his career. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2011 while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. He also played for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Sacramento Kings. Zach retired from basketball in December 2019.
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Zach Randolph's Early Basketball Journey
High School Star in Indiana
Zach Randolph grew up in Marion, Indiana. He went to Marion High School. His coach there was Moe Smedley. As a sophomore, Zach helped his team, the Marion Giants, reach the 1998 Indiana Class 4A Championship Game.
In his senior year, he led his team to the state championship game again. This time, Marion High School won its seventh state basketball title! Zach was second in the voting for Indiana's "Mr. Basketball" that year. During the 2000 McDonald's All-American Game, Zach was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). He scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in that game.
College Days at Michigan State
After high school, Zach played basketball for Michigan State University. His coach was Tom Izzo. Some of his teammates included Jason Richardson and Charlie Bell. In his only season at Michigan State (2000–2001), he played 33 games. He averaged 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. His team had a great record of 28 wins and 5 losses. They even made it to the NCAA Final Four. After his first year, he decided to enter the 2001 NBA draft.
Zach Randolph's Professional NBA Career
Starting with the Portland Trail Blazers (2001–2007)
The Portland Trail Blazers picked Zach in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft. He was the 19th player chosen overall. He continued to play as a power forward, just like in college.
In the 2003 NBA Playoffs, Zach played well against the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. In 2004, he won the NBA Most Improved Player Award. This award goes to the player who has shown the most improvement. After winning the award, he signed a big contract with the Blazers.
During the 2006–07 NBA season, Zach averaged 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. His season ended early in March 2007 because of a hand injury. In his last game as a Trail Blazer, he scored a career-high 43 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Over six seasons with Portland, he averaged 16.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Playing for the New York Knicks (2007–2008)
On June 28, 2007, Zach was traded to the New York Knicks. He joined the Knicks along with some other players. At a press conference, Zach announced he would wear jersey number 50. He played 69 games for the Knicks in the 2007–08 season. He averaged 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, which is called a "double-double."
He played only 11 games for New York the next year. Then, he was traded to the Clippers early in the 2008–09 season. While in New York, Zach averaged 18.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
Time with the Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2009)
On November 21, 2008, Zach was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. This happened after he played 11 games with the Knicks in the 2008–09 NBA season. During a game against the Phoenix Suns, Zach was ejected and later suspended for two games due to an on-court incident. Zach finished the 2008–09 season with the Clippers. He was traded again after that. In his 39 games with the Clippers, he averaged 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Becoming a Memphis Grizzlies Legend (2009–2017)
On July 17, 2009, Zach was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2010, he was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. He helped the Grizzlies become a better team.
The Grizzlies made the playoffs in 2011. They were the eighth seed, which means they were expected to lose. But they surprised everyone by beating the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round! This was only the second time an eighth seed beat a first seed in a seven-game series. It was the first time the Grizzlies won a playoff series in their history. In the final game of that series, Zach scored a playoff career-high 31 points.
On April 18, 2011, Zach signed a new contract with the Grizzlies. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team for the first time. Zach then led the Grizzlies to a win in their second-round playoff series. He scored a playoff career-high 34 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the Grizzlies lost that series in seven games.
In 2012, Zach and the Grizzlies played the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies lost that series in seven games.
Zach was named to his second All-Star game during the 2012–13 NBA season. On May 15, 2013, Zach helped the Grizzlies beat Oklahoma City again. This win sent them to the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever! In the game that sealed the win, Zach scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. In the Western Conference Finals, the Grizzlies were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
In the 2013–14 NBA season, the Grizzlies finished as the seventh seed. They faced Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder again in the playoffs. The Grizzlies lost the series in seven games. Zach was suspended for Game 7 due to an incident in Game 6.
On June 30, 2014, Zach signed a new contract with the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies moved past Portland in the first round of the 2015 NBA playoffs. But they lost to the Golden State Warriors, who later became NBA champions.
On March 19, 2016, Zach achieved his first "triple-double." This means he had double-digit numbers in three categories: 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Grizzlies made the playoffs again in 2016. But they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
On November 2, 2016, Zach passed Pau Gasol to become the Grizzlies' all-time leader in field goals made. On November 23, 2016, he passed Vlade Divac for 46th on the NBA's all-time rebounding list. On December 6, 2016, he played in his 1,000th career game. This made him one of only 121 NBA players to reach that milestone. He scored 27 points off the bench on January 6, 2017. This was his highest score off the bench since 2006.
Final Years with the Sacramento Kings (2017–2019)
On July 10, 2017, Zach signed a two-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. Before he joined the Kings, the Grizzlies announced that his jersey number 50 would never be worn by another player. They said it would be officially retired in the future. On December 8, 2017, Zach scored a season-high 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. On December 20, 2017, he reached over 10,000 career rebounds.
In the 2018–19 season, Zach played less because the Kings wanted to give younger players more time. He did not play for the team in his second season with the Kings. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on February 6, 2019. The Mavericks later waived him.
Zach's last NBA game was on March 19, 2018. He recorded 4 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in that game.
Retiring from the Game
On December 27, 2019, Zach Randolph announced he was retiring from professional basketball. On December 11, 2021, the Memphis Grizzlies officially retired his number 50 jersey in a ceremony. This was the first time the Grizzlies franchise had ever retired a player's number.
Zach Randolph's Career Statistics
Zach Randolph had a long and successful career in the NBA. He played 1,116 regular season games. He scored a total of 18,578 points, averaging 16.6 points per game. He also grabbed 10,208 rebounds, averaging 9.1 rebounds per game. He made 2,049 assists, averaging 1.8 assists per game.
In the playoffs, Zach played 70 games. He averaged 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
In Spanish: Zach Randolph para niños
