Tony Allen’s jersey was retired on March 15, 2023 following the Grizzlies game against the Miami Heat.
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.
Bill Russell (No. 6) 1956-69
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 (No. 9), 2010-17
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.
Marc Gasol (No. 33), 2008-19
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.
Zach Randolph (No. 50), 2009-17
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.
Don Poier 1995-2005 (Broadcaster)
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.
