HoopsHype.com Rumors

As owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, Robert Pera was already celebrating his team’s romp through the NBA playoffs. Now he can add another milestone — he’s back to being one of the youngest billionaires in the world, less than a year after falling out of the ranks of the wealthiest last June. Forbes.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Owners, Robert Pera 

Zach Randolph: Congrats to @Marc Gasol , @Tony Allen, & @Mike Conley for making the NBA All Defensive Team. We wouldn't be where we are today without you guys! Twitter @MacBo50

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol 

In this case, that meant convincing the franchise the best thing it could do in the short term was prepare for the long term. Just a few weeks before, Conley was nearly traded to Milwaukee for Ramon Sessions. But shortly after taking over for Marc Iavaroni, Hollins met with Conley and told him he was the new starting point guard, and he would be given every chance to remain the starting point guard for the rest of the season. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Mike Conley 

"It was more than a rumor," Conley said. "My dad's also my agent and he called me to say I wasn't playing this one game. When they tell you that, you know it's pretty serious. "So after all that happened, for [Hollins] to come to me and say, 'I don't care what happened before, I want to see if you can play or not' … I can't even put enough words in the sentences to say how much it means to me." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Mike Conley 

Robert Pera @Tony Allen: KD is going to be bringing everything he's got for the showdown in OKC. All eyes on Glove 2.0! Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Tony Allen, Robert Pera 

Hollins told star forward Zach Randolph, who is not known for his defense, that Randolph had made honorable mention on the NBA's all-defense team. “I did?” Randolph enthusiastically responded, according to Hollins. No, the coach said, “I'm just kidding.” Oklahoman

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Lionel Hollins 

"Marc's from Memphis man," Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph said. "Marc's tough. Marc played [high school and AAU ball] with all the guys from the ghetto, from south Memphis to north Memphis. And now he's been around me." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol 

"We crack jokes sometimes about what he used to [look like] in high school," Randolph said. "But man, he's just been growing as a person and individually. The guy's great, man. He's constantly getting better. I'm proud of him." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol 

Grizzlies assistant coach Barry Hecker left the team during the Western Conference semifinal against the Thunder for what Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said is a “personal matter.” Hollins said after the team's shootaround Monday morning that Hecker's departure is “nothing that's public consumption.” Oklahoman

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins, Barry Hecker 

Jared Dudley: How does Marc Gasol win defensive player of the year but not make NBA 1st team all defense?!!!! Something is not right, time for a new model Twitter @JaredDudley619

Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Jared Dudley, Marc Gasol 

Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and Miami Heat forward LeBron James, winner of the 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, headline the 2012-13 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Allen totaled 53 points overall and James tallied 52. Each player received 25 First Team votes. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Tony Allen 

Eric Koreen: To review, defensive player of year voted third best centre in league. (DPOY voted on by media; this by head coaches) Twitter @ekoreen

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

Memphis Grizzlies assistant Barry Hecker has left the team during the Western Conference semifinals for what coach Lionel Hollins says is a "personal matter." Hollins said after the Monday morning shootaround that Hecker's departure is "nothing that's public consumption." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins, Barry Hecker 

Team officials say only that Hecker is "no longer" with the Grizzlies. Hecker had been on Hollins' staff in Memphis the past five seasons. Hecker also has worked as a scout, player personnel director and assistant coach for the Clippers and Cavaliers. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Barry Hecker 

Chris Roberts: “I’m getting better every year. I wasn’t on the NBA prospect call-up list and then this year I moved up to No. 12. I was close to a call-up this year with Memphis, but they took the other guy. I feel like I have options now.” pjstar.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Roberts 

“I’ve said it before, when a guy has the ball and has to score like that it takes energy, and the more you make him work, that’s the best you can do,” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. “You can’t stop Kevin Durant, he’s a great player, but he played 45, 46 minutes and he’s asked to carry a huge load for them. As the game goes on other people for them, they start taking the load away from him a little bit, but I don’t think that we can stop him. I’m not attributing it to us.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Lionel Hollins 

"We have to get him confidence," Durant said of Ibaka. "We have to get him some shots and get him going. We can't let him put too much pressure on himself. It's all in his mind. If he thinks he's going to make those shots, he's going to make them. "He missed a few blocks, a few layups and a few open jump shots. I have to pick him up, and that's what I've been doing." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

The foundation was formed more than a decade ago, when Gasol’s entire family — Agusti, Marisa and their three boys, Pau, Marc and Adria — relocated to a three-bedroom apartment in nearby Germantown. Pau, gainfully employed, got his own room. Marc and Adria had to share one. “It felt like home,” Marc Gasol said. At Lausanne, Gasol developed a feel for the game while dominating lesser competition. The school was not a member of a strong conference. Van Hoozer recalled games that were played in cafeterias with linoleum floors. As a senior, Gasol averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds, 6 blocked shots and 5 assists. “I was just having fun because everybody was so much shorter than me,” Gasol said. “Honestly, my stats in high school were ridiculous. They made no sense.” New York Times

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

The team was a motley crew. Several players were from Europe. Others came from tough parts of Memphis. There was an unusual chemistry at work. Jerry West, a basketball legend who was then the general manager of the Grizzlies, made regular appearances at practice to watch his son Jonnie. He liked to be involved. “He was very respectful of the coaches,” Van Hoozer said. “He would say, ‘Coach Peters, would you mind if I stopped practice?’ ‘No, Mr. West. Go right ahead.’ And then he would huddle the kids up. Sometimes, he’d really get on them. The whole thing was kind of surreal.” New York Times

Memphis Grizzlies, Jerry West, Marc Gasol 

Hollins said he's confident in his status because Grizzlies management recently told him they wanted him back. "The only conversations we've had is they said they wanted me back," Hollins told ESPN. "After we lost the first two games to the Clippers, we had a friendly conversation about the series and how they just wanted me personally to know that regardless of what's being said out there, this is how they felt. "That was great." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins