Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph returned to a standing ovation from his home crowd after his mother passed away over a week ago.
When it comes to the Memphis Grizzlies, there isn’t a player that is loved more than Zach Randolph. He has helped bring a winning culture to the area during his time with the Grizzlies and has been part of some memorable moments with the team. He’s also been a huge supporter of his community in Memphis and his community back home in Marion, Indiana. Randolph had been away from the Grizzlies for over a week ever since mother sadly passed away.
On Tuesday night, Randolph finally returned to the team and delivered a huge performance in the team’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The best moment of the game came when Randolph entered the game for the first time. The fans in attendance gave him a standing ovation in what was an incredible scene.
Randolph has always meant a great deal to the fans in Memphis. His toughness down the low and the way he helped anchor the paint for years has made him a crowd favorite. Not only was it an emotional return, but it was the 1,000th game of his career.
To play 1,000 NBA games is a special feat and Randolph has given his all to get to this point. The Grizzlies as a franchise wouldn’t be where they are at today without him and that’s why the fans were there to show him support in his return.