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How Michigan State’s former players fared in the NBA this season

By Connor Muldowney

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Apr 10, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) reacts during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

2. Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies

Unfortunately for Michigan State’s basketball program, the Spartans were only blessed with Zach Randolph’s immense talents for one season in East Lansing. The former MSU post player has become a premier big man in the NBA and a guy who no one wants to go up against in the paint. Randolph has an NFL tight end-type of body with a soft-touch shot and dominant post moves.

Randolph was part of Izzo’s 2000-01 Final Four team as a freshman, averaging 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while also shooting a solid 59 percent from the floor. That one year at MSU opened the eyes of NBA GMs everywhere and he was selected with the No. 19 pick overall by Portland in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Randolph has had one of the more solid NBA careers out of any Spartan who has played under Izzo and this year has been no different.

The Memphis Grizzlies’ power forward has averaged 16.1 points and 10.5 rebounds, playing in 71 games for the team. He has also helped lead the Grizz to the fourth-best record in the Western Conference and the fifth-seed in the upcoming playoffs.

The Grizzlies were just two wins away from being the two-seed in the Western Conference playoffs. His numbers are a bit down from last year, but the 33-year-old power forward is still holding his own in the league as the Grizzlies arguably have the best one-two post presence in the NBA with Randolph playing alongside Gasol.

Next: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

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