Shane Battier on his return to Memphis in 2011: "The city really saved me"

Few players contributed to the growth of Memphis as a basketball city as much as Shane Battier.

In his two stints with the Grizzlies—first as a promising rookie and later as an elite defensive stopper—Battier left a lasting impact on the team and the city.

It turns out Memphis has had a lasting impact on Battier.

In a recent interview with the Commercial Appeal , the retired forward said that when the Grizzlies traded for him and brought him back to the team in 2011, the city saved his career.

"I had so many emotions coming back to Memphis. I didn't know how I was going to fit professionally," Battier said . "If I had been traded to Utah or Boston or Oklahoma or some city that I had no connection to, I can't imagine how I would have struggled. The city really saved me."

"I was lucky that I was going back to a city that had a lot of love for me," The two-time champion added.

Legendary college career and solid NBA journey

Battier had one of the best college careers of any player. He led Duke to an NCAA Title in 2001, was a two-time All-American selection, and was the AP Player of the Year. The Grizzlies, who had just relocated to Memphis, selected him sixth in the 2001 NBA Draft.

The Grizzlies selected Pau Gasol with the third pick in that draft. The entire city was excited about the duo's arrival.

In their first season, Gasol won Rookie of the Year, and Battier also made a smooth transition to the pros and showed much potential and upside. The two players were tapped to be the franchise cornerstones. Fans had an immediate connection with them.

They played exciting basketball but were a young team far from achieving real success. Battier developed his game each season, becoming one of the best defenders in the league and a reliable outside threat.

In 2006, the Grizzlies traded Battier to the Houston Rockets.

Memphis knows how to embrace its athletes

Battier never became a star scorer for the Grizzlies, but he set the standard for perimeter defenders.

Shane spent five seasons with the Houston Rockets. When he returned to the Grizzlies in 2011, Memphis fans loved him as he had never left the team, and Battier repaid them with leadership and clutch shooting.

He partnered with Tony Allen to form one of the league's best wing-defender duos. Memphis was the eighth seed during that year's playoffs, but they won the first vs. eighth matchup against the mighty Spurs, with both stoppers playing significant roles.

In Game 1 of that series, Battier led the franchise to its first-ever postseason win, 101-98, hitting the game-winning three.

Rings with Miami as Lebron and Wade's sidekick

After that second stint with Memphis, Battier signed with the Miami Heat and won two NBA championships playing alongside Lebron James and Dwyane Wade.

Due to his crucial role on three consecutive Heatles' Finals appearances, Battier is best remembered with a Miami Heat jersey.

However, the city that impacted his career the most will forever remain Memphis.

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