Zach Randolph is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 17 seasons. He was born on July 16, 1981, in Marion, Indiana, and attended Marion High School, where he played basketball. Randolph was a standout player in high school and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 2000.
After high school, Randolph attended Michigan State University, where he played college basketball for one season before declaring for the NBA draft. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 19th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft.
Randolph played for the Trail Blazers for six seasons, from 2001 to 2007. During his time in Portland, he established himself as a reliable scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002 and was selected to the NBA All-Star Game in 2004.
In 2007, Randolph was traded to the New York Knicks, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Los Angeles Clippers for one season before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009.
Randolph played for the Grizzlies for eight seasons, from 2009 to 2017. During his time in Memphis, he became one of the team's most beloved players and helped lead the Grizzlies to seven consecutive playoff appearances. He was named to the NBA All-Star Game in 2010, 2013, and 2014 and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2011.
In 2017, Randolph signed with the Sacramento Kings, where he played for one season before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. He was waived by the Mavericks shortly after the trade and announced his retirement from the NBA in December 2018.
Throughout his career, Randolph was known for his physical style of play and his ability to score and rebound. He finished his career with averages of 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and was one of the most respected players in the league. Off the court, Randolph was known for his philanthropic work and was involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout his career.
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