MGMemphis Grizzlies

Franchise history

The Grizzlies began as a 1995 NBA expansion franchise in Vancouver, part of the league's brief push into Canada alongside the Toronto Raptors. Poor attendance and financial losses led to relocation after the 2000-01 season, making Memphis the first of the "big four" major North American pro leagues to field a team there. The Memphis-era Grizzlies struggled early, but the acquisitions of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, alongside homegrown point guard Mike Conley and defensive stopper Tony Allen, built the physical, defense-first "Grit and Grind" identity of the early-to-mid 2010s. That core reached the Western Conference Finals in 2013, the franchise's best postseason finish, before being swept by San Antonio.

Memphis retooled around Ja Morant, the explosive point guard taken second overall in the 2019 draft who won Rookie of the Year in 2020 and helped return the franchise to the playoffs with an up-tempo, highlight-driven style. The Morant era has also brought off-court turbulence: he served a 25-game NBA suspension during the 2023-24 season after a firearm-related incident, and injuries have repeatedly interrupted his availability. The Grizzlies remain built around Morant's talent as they look to translate regular-season promise into a deeper playoff run.

Sources

• History of the Memphis Grizzlies — Wikipedia
• Vancouver Grizzlies relocation to Memphis — Wikipedia