Marc Gasol is the Grizzlies’ all-time leading rebounder with 5,842 rebounds.
The Grizzlies were founded in 1995 in Vancouver, but relocated to Memphis in 2001. They’ve yet to make an NBA Finals appearance, but several notable players have left their mark on the franchise. Let’s sift through their franchise leaders and peer into their five all-time rebounders.
1. Marc Gasol – 5,942 Rebounds
The younger Gasol brother was the big man in the middle during the “Grit & Grind” era in Memphis, when they stood out for capturing the spirit of the city. Their main objective wasn’t to outscore opponents, but shut them down entirely. Gasol played a big role in that, often sealing defensive possessions with a rebound. The three time All-Star averaged 7.7 boards in 12 seasons with the Grizzlies.
2. Zach Randolph – 5,612 Rebounds
Paired with Marc Gasol in the Grizzlies froncourt, Randolph held down the power forward spot for nearly a decade. A talented low-post scorer who topped 20 points twice during eight seasons in Memphis, Randolph proved an impactful rebounder as well. Despite not being known as the most athletic or tallest player on the floor, he carved out space down low for rebounds on a nightly basis with his 6-foot-9, 250 pound frame. He averaged double-digit rebounds five times with the Grizzlies.
3. Pau Gasol – 4,096 Rebounds
The elder Gasol brother got off to a hot start with the Grizzlies, playing his first season with the team when the franchise moved from Vancouver to Memphis. He was the 2002 Rookie of the Year, made his first All-Star team in 2006 and posted 18.8 points and 8.6 boards a night during seven seasons in Memphis. He went on to win back-to-back championships with the Los Angeles Lakers after being traded there in 2008.
4. Shareef Abdur-Rahim – 3,070 Rebounds
Abdur-Rahim played five seasons in Vancouver for the Grizzlies & did not disappoint. The No. 3 pick in a loaded 1996 draft class that featured Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Steve Nash, Abdur-Rahim’s best year on the boards came in the 1999-2000 season, when he averaged a career high 10.1 rebounds a night.
5. Rudy Gay – 2,758 Rebounds
Rounding out the top five is Rudy Gay, who also crashed the glass alongside Marc Gasol & Zach Randolph. The athletic swingman spent seven years with the Grizzlies and did a little bit of everything: from scoring points to being a playmaker, defending and – of course – crashing the glass.
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