Top-5 Shot Blockers in Memphis Grizzlies History

The Grizzlies franchise was founded in 1995 for the 1995-96 season. Let's take a closer look at their all-time leaders and showcase the top five players in terms of blocks.

1. Marc Gasol, 2008-2019 (1,135 blocks)

Gasol was selected in the second round of the 2007 Draft by the Lakers, but had his draft rights traded to the Grizzlies in 2008. Gasol won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 2012-13 season when he averaged 1.7 blocks per game. Over 769 career games with the Grizzlies, Gasol averaged 1.5 blocks.

2. Pau Gasol, 2001-2007 (877 blocks)

Gasol won Rookie of the Year honors with the Grizzlies in the 2001-02 season. He appeared in all 82 games as a rookie, averaging 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 blocks. As a member of the Grizzlies, Gasol averaged 1.8 blocks over 476 games.

3. Jaren Jackson Jr., 2018-present (671 blocks)

Jackson is still adding to his career total as a current member of the Grizzlies. Memphis drafted him with the fourth-overall pick in the 2018 Draft. Jackson has led the league in blocks twice, including when he averaged 3.0 blocks and won Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. 

4. Stromile Swift, 2000-2008 (607 blocks) 

The Grizzlies selected Swift with the second-overall pick in the 2000 Draft. While he logged just 16 minutes per game during his rookie season, he still averaged one block per game. Swift would then go on to average at least 1.5 blocks in each of the next four seasons. He played with four different franchises during his career, which included two separate stints with the Grizzlies. In 441 games as a member of the Grizzlies, Swift averaged 1.4 blocks.

5. Shane Battier, 2001-2006 (428 blocks)

The Grizzlies took Battier with the No. 6 pick in the 2001 Draft. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Grizzlies where he averaged 1.4 blocks per game in the 2005-06 season. He would average one block a game during his time with the Grizzlies.