Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are the only major professional sports team based in Memphis and one of four professional teams in Tennessee, alongside the NFL's Tennessee Titans, NHL's Nashville Predators, and MLS's Nashville SC.

The franchise was founded in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, an expansion team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After six seasons, the team relocated to Memphis for the 2001-02 season. The Grizzlies play their home games at FedExForum, which opened in 2004 with a capacity of approximately 18,119. Before FedExForum, they played at The Pyramid Arena from 2001 to 2004.

The team is known for its passionate fan base and the "Grit and Grind" identity that defined the early 2010s, emphasizing tough defense and physical play. The Grizzlies have made 13 playoff appearances as of 2024, with their deepest run being the 2013 Western Conference Finals.[edit]

The franchise began in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, one of two expansion teams alongside the Toronto Raptors. The team struggled in its early years, posting losing records in each of its six seasons in Vancouver. Despite drafting promising players like Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Mike Bibby, the team failed to make the playoffs. In 2001, the franchise relocated to Memphis, becoming the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies made their first playoff appearance in 2004 under coach Hubie Brown, who won Coach of the Year. The team was swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. After a few rebuilding years, the franchise entered its most successful era in the 2010s, led by the core of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen. This "Grit and Grind" era produced seven consecutive playoff appearances from 2011 to 2017, including a memorable first-round upset of the top-seeded Spurs in 2011 and a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2013, where they were swept by the Spurs.

After a brief decline, the Grizzlies rebuilt around Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. They won back-to-back Southwest Division titles in 2022 and 2023, posting 56 and 51 wins respectively. However, the 2023-24 season was derailed by injuries and a suspension to Morant, resulting in a 27-55 record. The team is now rebuilding its young core for the 2024-25 season.[edit]