Randolph doc is about becoming icon with Grizzlies
In the early minutes of a documentary on Zach Randolph, he answered questions at his first press conference with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009. At one point, he was asked whether he was worried about his past troubles following him to Memphis — his fourth NBA stop.
Randolph said he wanted "to start a new chapter here" and just move forward instead of looking back. That chapter, written over eight seasons, turned him into one of the most beloved sports icons in city history.
"#50Fordacity" premieres Tuesday on the Grizzlies' website and Youtube channel but was screened Sunday to MVP season-ticket holders at Malco Cordova Cinema. It begins a week-long tribute for Randolph, who'll have his No. 50 jersey retired Saturday at Fedexforum.
"It's really mind-blowing just to be able to go in the rafters," Randolph said Sunday. "Coming where I come from, the documentary, just all the love that the city and organization showed me, it's why I gave back."
With interviews from former teammates like Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, Chris Paul and Memphis-based rappers Moneybaggyo and Yo Gotti, it paints a wide picture of Randolph's impact on the city. It also focuses on several moments fans will enjoy reliving.
There's Randolph's Game 6 performance to close out the Spurs and win the Grizzlies' first playoff series in 2011. There's also his infamous tussles with Blake Griffin, then with the Los Angeles Clippers, in the 2012 and 2013 playoffs.
The documentary starts with the Clippers drafting Griffin in 2009 and trading Randolph to Memphis a few weeks later. When it gets to the playoff series, there are clips of takedowns, shoves and back-and-forth post play with Randolph and others giving their commentary.
The only voice missing is Griffin, and it was revealed on a panel after the screening that he declined to be interviewed. Randolph said the two sometimes cross paths in Los Angeles, where he stays now.
"I see him a little bit in the summer in L.A., catch him in traffic. We laugh and it's all good," Randolph said.
The film covers other basketball moments, including Randolph's near scuf
fle with Kendrick Perkins, but it also spends a significant portion on his charity
work. Whether it was paying utility bills or handing out free turkeys at Thanksgiving, Randolph made time to help others, especially in neighborhoods like North Memphis.
For him, the child of a single mother, he understood what it meant to be in need and he wanted to help others in Memphis find some hope.
"I gave my heart, I gave my sweat and I gave everything and they respect it. The city respects it and that's all you can ask," Randolph said.
Fans stayed in the theater and waited while Randolph posed for pictures and signed autographs. The chapter he wanted to write remains one of the most satisfying to Grizzlies fans, and the documentary shows its impact ahead of his jersey retirement.