With the hype of the offseason coming to an end, I have decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to examine each team’s specific All-NBA First Team. What I mean by this is- following the criteria set by the NBA for the All-NBA Team rules, I will examine and elaborate on my picks for each team’s specific All-NBA First Team.

G- Mike Conley: 2007-Present

Of all the players currently in the NBA, Mike Conley is arguably the most underrated, which is no more evident than the backlash that the Grizzlies received upon re-signing him to the largest contract in NBA history.

Conley has never made an All-Star team, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t an efficient player, in fact, I would argue he’s been the most important player to the Grizzlies’ success over the last half decade.

Since being drafted in 2007, Conley has delivered beyond expectations- leading the team in points, three point field goals, steals, and assists during his tenure. He’s also the team’s all-time leader in games played.

The Grizzlies have seen the most success in the history of the franchise during Conley’s tenure, making the playoffs the last six seasons (Conley missed this past season’s playoffs). The team made their only Western Conference Finals appearance in 2013.

G- Mike Miller: 2003–2008, 2014

Mike Miller was never a superstar, but the majority of his success came as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, winning the sixth man of the year award in 2006. Miller not only performed on the court, but he also performed off the court, becoming a fan-favorite among Grizzlies’ diehards.

Miller, a three-point specialist, is the team’s all-time leader in three pointers made, and holds the franchise single-season record for three-pointers made and three point field goal percentage.

During Miller’s time in Memphis, the team made four playoff appearances.

F- Zach Randolph: 2009-Present

Like Mike Conley, Zach Randolph has been a crucial player to the Grizzlies’ recent success. Randolph resurrected his career upon coming to Memphis in 2009- making both of his All-Star and only All-NBA Team (1x Third Team) appearance as a member of the Grizzlies.

Randolph has been a double-double machine since joining the team. He is among the NBA leaders in total double-doubles since the 2009–2010 season. Randolph holds the franchise’s five highest single-season averages for rebounds per game (12.2, 11.7, 11.2, 10.5, and 10.1). He’s the team’s all-time leader in rebounds.

The team has made the playoffs in all but one of Randolph’s seasons, making it to the Western Conference Finals in 2013.

Randolph’s toughness and on-court demeanor have perfectly complimented the grittiness and defensive-first mentality that the Grizzlies have possessed over the last half-decade.

F- Pau Gasol: 2001–2008

From the day he was drafted until the day he was traded, Pau Gasol was the face of the Grizzlies’ franchise. Not only did he establish himself as the team’s best player, but he also established himself as one of the best overall players in the entire NBA, making an All-Star appearance in 2006.

Gasol averaged 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a Memphis Grizzlies’ payer. He’s the team’s all-time leading scorer, and his 21.6 PER is the highest among any player who has ever played for the team.

The Grizzlies made three playoff appearances in Gasol’s seven full seasons with the team. Gasol was the key cog in helping the Grizzlies maintain some sort of success in the mid 2000s.

C- Marc Gasol: 2008- Present

In 2009, if you were to tell me Marc Gasol’s career in Memphis would be more successful than his brother Pau’s I would have laughed. Well, seven years later and I can admit I was wrong. Marc Gasol has ultimately been the better of the two in terms of team success. Pau may have better per game averages, but what Marc has is something Pau never had in Memphis, and that is sustained playoff success. The Grizzlies have appeared in the playoffs six times during Marc’s career- double the amount that Pau made. In addition to that, Pau never made it out of the first round in Memphis. Marc has made it past the first round three times, making the Western Conference finals in 2013.

Marc Gasol has appeared on two All-Star teams and two All-NBA Teams (1x First Team, 1x Third Team). Marc’s defense has been the defining factor of his game, which he was recognized for in in 2013, winning the defensive player of the year award.

Like his front-court mate Zach Randolph, Marc’s grittiness and toughness have been crucial to the Grizzlies’ reputation as defense-first, tough, and tenacious basketball team.