November 1, 2004
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward
Zach Randolph to a multi-year contract extension. As per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.
"This extension represents a major commitment to a young, up-and-coming star within the NBA," said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. "We look forward to many successful seasons together and to Zach Randolph becoming a fixture with the organization and the Portland community."
Randolph averaged 20.1ppg and 10.5rpg, one of only five NBA players to average more than 20 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. For his efforts, he was selected as the NBA's Most Improved Player, the first Trail Blazer to win the award since Kevin Duckworth in 1987-88. Randolph led Portland in scoring in 44 of the 81 games he played in and in rebounding 61 times. He ranked in the NBA’s top 20 in 19 different league statistical categories at season’s end, including sixth in rebounding (10.5 rpg), eighth in defensive rebounding (7.5), ninth in offensive rebounding (3.0), 11th in total points scored (1,626) 16th in scoring (20.1 ppg), 17th in field goal percentage (.485), 20th in minutes played (37.5 mpg) and 14th in the league’s efficiency rating (21.02).
"I'm very excited to be a Portland Trail Blazer for at least the next seven seasons," said Randolph. "I love the fans and the Portland community, and am looking forward to helping lead the Trail Blazers back to the NBA playoffs."
The 6-foot-9, 259-pound Randolph posted 43 double-doubles, the highest team total since Mychal Thompson set an all-time club record of 55 during the 1981-82 season. He scored in double numbers in 78 of the 81 games he played in last season and registered 20 or more points 43 times. Randolph reached the 30-plus mark on three occasions, including a career-high 34-point effort in the Trail Blazers 95-93 overtime victory over Indiana on December 3rd.
In his second season, Randolph played in 77 games and had 11 starts He averaged 8.4ppg and 4.5rpg in 16.9 minutes. He came on strong in the final week of regular season action, putting together a huge game at Memphis on April 11, 2003 with then-career highs of 31 points and 20 rebounds. It was the first 30-20 combination by a Trail Blazer since Maurice Lucas posted a 35-20 combination 26 years earlier (Feb. 17, 1977 at Denver. Randolph continued his late-season surge in the playoffs, averaging 13.9ppg and a team-best 8.7rpg in the seven-game series against Dallas He appeared in 41 games in 2001-02, his rookie season, averaging 2.8ppg and 1.7rpg in 5.8mpg.
The 23-year-old was selected by the Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft as an Early Entry Candidate out of Michigan State. Randolph averaged 10.8ppg and 6.7rpg in his only season at MSU. For his efforts he was named to the 2001 Sporting News Freshman All-American team. He recorded 23 double-doubles in 33 games for the Spartans.
A native of Marion, IN, Randolph was a USA Today First Team All-American, Parade Magazine First Team All-American and MVP of the 2000 McDonalds All-American game. He was named Indiana Player of the Year by USA Today after averaging 23.7ppg, 14.8rpg and 3.0apg. He helped lead the Marion Giants to the 4A Indiana state prep title and a number 6 ranking in USA Today’s Super 25 poll for the 1999-2000 season.
Zach Randolph Sends Message to Fans
Zach Randolph Press Conference
