Memphis Grizzlies facts for kids
The Memphis Grizzlies (often called the Grizz) are a professional basketball team located in Memphis, Tennessee. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Western Conference's Southwest Division. The Grizzlies play their home games at FedExForum. They are the only major professional sports team in Memphis.
The team first started in Canada as the Vancouver Grizzlies in Vancouver, British Columbia, joining the NBA in the 1995–96 season. After the 2000–01 season, the Grizzlies moved from Vancouver to Memphis.
Quick facts for kids Memphis Grizzlies |
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| Conference | Western | ||
| Division | Southwest | ||
| Founded | 1995 | ||
| History | Vancouver Grizzlies 1995–2001 Memphis Grizzlies 2001–present |
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| Arena | FedExForum | ||
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee | ||
| Team colors | Beale Street blue, Memphis midnight blue, steel gray, gold |
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| Main sponsor | Robinhood | ||
| President | Jason Wexler | ||
| General manager | Zachary Kleiman | ||
| Head coach | Tuomas Iisalo | ||
| Ownership | Memphis Basketball, LLC (Robert Pera, Chairman and Controlling Owner) | ||
| Affiliation(s) | Memphis Hustle | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Conference titles | 0 | ||
| Division titles | 2 (2022, 2023) | ||
| Retired numbers | 3 (9, 33, 50) | ||
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Contents
- Team History and Beginnings
- Season Records
- Team Uniforms
- Home Arenas
- Team Personnel
- Team Traditions
- Team Rivalries
- See also
Team History and Beginnings
Starting in Vancouver (1995–2001)
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a Canadian basketball team. They were based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The team joined the NBA in 1995, at the same time as the Toronto Raptors. They were part of the NBA's plan to expand into Canada. The team was named "Grizzlies" after the grizzly bear, which lives in British Columbia. The Grizzlies played their home games at General Motors (GM) Place for all six seasons they were in Vancouver.
Moving to Memphis (2001)
On March 26, 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies asked the NBA if they could move to Memphis, Tennessee. The NBA approved this on July 3. This left the Toronto Raptors as the only Canadian NBA team. The team moved after the 2000–01 NBA season and became the Memphis Grizzlies.
When they moved, the team thought about changing the name "Grizzlies" to something else. However, people in Memphis really liked the name. This was because a football team called the Memphis Grizzlies had played in the city before. For their first three seasons in Memphis, the Grizzlies played their home games at the Pyramid Arena.
The Pau Gasol Era (2001–2007)
In the 2001 NBA draft, the Grizzlies got Pau Gasol, who was chosen third overall. They also picked Shane Battier sixth overall. That same year, they traded for Jason Williams. After their first season in Memphis (2001–02 NBA season), Pau Gasol won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2002, Jerry West, a famous former player, became the team's general manager. He made many changes. The team hired Hubie Brown as coach during the 2002–03 NBA season.
The Grizzlies made the NBA playoffs for the first time in 2004. They won a record 50 games that season. They were the sixth seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, they played against the San Antonio Spurs, who won the series in four games.
Playoff Appearances (2004–2007)
Coach Hubie Brown stepped down during the 2004–05 NBA season. Mike Fratello took over as coach. The Grizzlies improved and made the playoffs for the second year in a row. But they were swept again in the first round, this time by the Phoenix Suns.
After that season, the team made more changes, bringing in new veteran players. They made the playoffs for a third straight year in 2006. They were the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They played the Dallas Mavericks, who also swept them in four games.
Before the 2006–07 NBA season, Pau Gasol broke his foot. This was a big setback for the team. The Grizzlies struggled without him. Coach Fratello was fired and Tony Barone Sr. became the interim coach.
Rebuilding the Team (2007–2010)
The Grizzlies finished the 2006–07 NBA season with the worst record in the league. Jerry West then left his role as general manager. The team hired Marc Iavaroni as their new head coach. In the 2007 NBA draft, the Grizzlies picked Mike Conley Jr. fourth overall.
On February 1, 2008, Pau Gasol was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Grizzlies received several players and the rights to Marc Gasol, Pau's younger brother.
In January 2009, Marc Iavaroni was fired as coach. Lionel Hollins became the permanent head coach. In the 2009 NBA draft, Memphis picked Hasheem Thabeet second overall. They also signed Allen Iverson for a short time. With new player Zach Randolph and the improving Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies started to play better. They finished the 2009–10 NBA season with a 40–42 record.
The "Grit and Grind" Era (2010–2019)
Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen (2010–2017)
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The 2010–11 NBA season was the Grizzlies' tenth year in Memphis. They made it back to the playoffs for the first time in five years. They finished with a 46–36 record. The team became known for its "Grit and Grind" style of play. This meant strong defense and scoring close to the basket.
In the 2011 NBA playoffs, the Grizzlies made history. As the eighth seed, they beat the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in six games. This was only the fourth time in NBA history an #8 seed defeated a #1 seed. Their amazing season ended when the Oklahoma City Thunder beat them in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The Grizzlies returned to the playoffs in the 2011–12 NBA season. They finished fourth in the Western Conference. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the first round.
In 2012, Robert J. Pera became the new owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.
In January 2013, the Grizzlies traded Rudy Gay in a big three-team deal. They got Tayshaun Prince and Ed Davis. At the end of the season, Memphis had their best record ever: 56–26. They were the fifth seed in the playoffs. Marc Gasol was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
In the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs, Memphis defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in six games. This was revenge for the previous year's loss. Memphis then reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 4–1. However, their season ended when the San Antonio Spurs swept them in the Conference Finals.
The Grizzlies made the playoffs again in the 2013–14 NBA season. They faced the Oklahoma City Thunder again and lost in seven games.
In the 2014–15 NBA season, the Grizzlies made the playoffs as the fifth seed. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the first round. In the second round, they played against the top-seeded Golden State Warriors. The Warriors won the series in six games.
By 2017, key players from the "Grit and Grind" era started to leave. Zach Randolph signed with the Sacramento Kings, and Tony Allen joined the New Orleans Pelicans. This marked the end of an important time for the team.
Changes and New Players (2017–2019)
With Randolph and Allen gone, the 2017–18 NBA season was the first time the Grizzlies missed the playoffs since 2010. They had a long losing streak and their point guard, Mike Conley Jr., missed most of the season due to injuries.
In February 2019, the Grizzlies traded Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors. After the season, on July 6, Mike Conley Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz. These trades meant the team was moving on from the "Grit and Grind" era.
The Ja Morant Era (2019–Present)
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After the 2018–19 NBA season, the Grizzlies made big changes to their basketball operations. Taylor Jenkins was announced as the team's new head coach.
With the second pick in the 2019 NBA draft, the Grizzlies selected Ja Morant. They also got Brandon Clarke. The team started to build a new, young core of players including Morant, Clarke, Dillon Brooks, and Jaren Jackson Jr..
The Grizzlies were invited to the 2020 NBA Bubble to finish the 2019–20 NBA season. They finished ninth in the Western Conference. Ja Morant was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for his great performance.
In the 2020–21 NBA season, the Grizzlies finished with a 38–34 record. They made it to the playoffs through the play-in tournament. They beat the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors to get the 8th seed. In the first round, they faced the top-ranked Utah Jazz and lost in five games.
The Grizzlies had even more success in the 2021–22 NBA season. They finished with a 56–26 record, which was their highest seeding ever (second in the Western Conference). They won their first division title in team history. They defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Golden State Warriors in the second round.
The 2022–23 NBA season saw the Grizzlies finish 51–31, again as the second seed in the West. Jaren Jackson Jr. was named an All-Star and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 2023–24 NBA season was tough for the Grizzlies due to many injuries. Ja Morant played only nine games before a shoulder injury ended his season. The team finished with a 27–55 record.
Season Records
Here are the Grizzlies' results from their last five seasons:
| Season | GP | W | L | W–L% | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 72 | 38 | 34 | .528 | 2nd, Southwest | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Jazz) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 56 | 26 | .683 | 1st, Southwest | Lost in conference semifinals, 2–4 (Warriors) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 51 | 31 | .622 | 1st, Southwest | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Lakers) |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 27 | 55 | .329 | 4th, Southwest | Did not qualify |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2nd, Southwest | Lost in first round, 0–4 (Thunder) |
Team Uniforms
When the Grizzlies moved to Memphis, they kept their old uniforms from Vancouver. These uniforms had turquoise and red colors. After one season, they made small changes to the logos on the uniforms.
In 2004, when they moved to FedExForum, the Grizzlies got new uniforms. These uniforms used navy blue, Beale Street blue, smoke blue, and gold colors. The team's main logo also changed to a more serious-looking bear head.
Over the years, the Grizzlies have updated their uniforms several times. They have worn special "City" uniforms that pay tribute to different parts of Memphis culture. For example, some uniforms honored the Memphis sanitation strike or Stax Records. The "City" uniform for the 2024–25 NBA season celebrated the 50th anniversary of the former ABA team, the Memphis Sounds.
Home Arenas
- General Motors (GM) Place (1995–2001)
- Pyramid Arena (2001–2004)
- FedExForum (2004–present)
Team Personnel
Current Roster
Basketball Hall of Famers
Some players and staff who were part of the Grizzlies have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame:
| Memphis Grizzlies Hall of Famers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
| 3 | Allen Iverson | G | 2009 | 2016 |
| 16 | Pau Gasol | F/C | 2001–2008 | 2023 |
| 15 | Vince Carter | G/F | 2014–2017 | 2024 |
| Contributors | ||||
| Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted | |
| Hubie Brown | Head coach | 2002–2004 | 2005 | |
| Jerry West | General manager | 2002–2007 | 2024 | |
Retired Numbers
The Grizzlies honor special players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again. The NBA also retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams in 2022.
| Memphis Grizzlies retired numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Position | Tenure | Retired |
| 9 | Tony Allen | SG / SF | 2010–2017 | March 15, 2025 |
| 33 | Marc Gasol | C | 2008–2019 | April 6, 2024 |
| 50 | Zach Randolph | PF | 2009–2017 | December 11, 2021 |
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Don Poier | Broadcaster | 1995–2005 | April 20, 2005 |
General Managers
| GM history | |
|---|---|
| GM | Tenure |
| Stu Jackson | 1995–2000 |
| Billy Knight | 2000–2002 |
| Dick Versace | 2002–2005 |
| Jerry West | 2005–2007 |
| Chris Wallace | 2007–2019 |
| Zach Kleiman | 2019–present |
Team Traditions
Grizz, the Mascot
Grizz is the official mascot of the Memphis Grizzlies. He was first introduced in 1995 when the team was in Vancouver. Grizz was named 2011 NBA Mascot of the Year.
Friends of Grizz
In 2007, the person who played Grizz was diagnosed with cancer. To show support, the Grizzlies did not have Grizz appear until he recovered. Mascots from other teams performed at Grizzlies home games instead. The team also started "Friends of Grizz" to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Growl Towels
Growl Towels are the Grizzlies' special gold rally towels. Fans get them at every home playoff game. They first appeared in 2004. Since 2013, Growl Towels have featured popular team slogans like "Grit & Grind" or "All Heart." They became well-known during the Grizzlies' playoff runs.
Team Rivalries
Los Angeles Clippers
The Grizzlies have a rivalry with the Los Angeles Clippers. This started in the 2011–12 NBA season when the Clippers beat the Grizzlies in the playoffs. The Grizzlies got their revenge in the 2012–13 NBA season, beating the Clippers in the playoffs. There have been some intense moments between players from both teams.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Grizzlies also have a rivalry with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have played each other in the playoffs several times. The Thunder won in 2011 and 2014. The Grizzlies won in 2013.
San Antonio Spurs
The Grizzlies' rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs began in 2004 when the Spurs swept them in the playoffs. Seven years later, in the 2011 NBA playoffs, the Grizzlies upset the Spurs. This was a big win for the Grizzlies. They met again in the 2013 conference finals, where the Spurs swept them again. They have played each other in the playoffs multiple times since then.
See also
In Spanish: Memphis Grizzlies para niños
