Retired numbers for the Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies trace their franchise lineage back to Vancouver and the 1995-96 season. As the team approaches the completion of its third decade, here’s a look back at the players who earned the distinction of having had their numbers retired.
The legendary Bill Russell never suited up for any team other than the Boston Celtics, but the 11-time NBA champion, 12-time All-Star and five-time MVP unsurprisingly has had his jersey number retired league-wide. In addition to his extensive list of accolades as a player, Russell became the first African-American coach to win an NBA title when Boston secured both the 1968 and 1969 championships with him functioning as a player-coach.
Tony Allen didn’t arrive in Memphis until six years into his NBA career, but his elite defensive skills helped the Grizzlies forge a formidable identity on that side of the floor during his time with the club. Allen was a solid shooter from in front of the arc and a steady rebounder from his wing position, but perhaps his most important contributions came in the form of his averages of 1.5 to a career-high 2.0 steals per contest during his seven-year Grizzlies tenure.
Three-time All-Star Marc Gasol earned a host of accolades during his decade-plus tenure with the Grizzlies, including a pair of All-NBA nods and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013. One of the more versatile bigs in his NBA tenure, Gasol averaged between 14.1 and a career-high 19.5 points per game on nine occasions during 10-plus seasons in Memphis. He complemented those numbers with above-average facilitating skills for a center – he contributed at least 4.0 assists per game in four different instances – and averaged at least 1.0 steals and blocks in the same half-season or season on six occasions as well.
Known affectionately as “Z-Bo”, Zach Randolph, like Allen, joined the Grizzlies as an accomplished veteran and contributed at a high level for multiple seasons in Memphis. Originally a first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers, Randolph teamed with Allen and Gasol to ingrain an aggressive, physical style of play in the Grizzlies, especially near the basket. Randolph averaged a points-rebounds double-double in five of his eight Memphis seasons, and he finished with over 20.0 points per game in two of those campaigns as well.
The one non-player on this list, the late Don Poier was a beloved broadcast figure for the Grizzlies franchise from its inception in Vancouver until his passing midway through the 2004-05 season. Poier joined the Grizzlies broadcast team for their inaugural season and became a fixture for his unique, engaging style on both the team’s radio and television broadcasts during the course of his career. With a reputation for both unwavering support and unvarnished critiques of the team, he narrated the trials and tribulations of Memphis for close to a decade. Poier earned a special place in Grizzlies lore.