Established
1995
City
Vancouver – Memphis
League History
1995 – Present / National Basketball Association
Team History
2001 – Present / Memphis Grizzlies
1995 – 2001 / Vancouver Grizzlies
Nickname
Grizzlies – Memphis Grizzlies have been a part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2001, but their nickname has an interesting origin story. The name was chosen to represent the city’s rich heritage and its ties to music, blues, and soul.
The team chose “Grizzlies” as a tribute to Memphis' history with wildlife. The area had once been home to thousands of grizzly bears before they were wiped out by settlers in the 1800s. In addition, grizzly bears are known for their strength and ferocity - qualities that make them perfect symbols for sports teams!
Memphis Grizzlies Origin
The logo also pays homage to Memphis' musical roots: it features two guitar strings arranged in an "M" shape which stands for both "Memphis" and "music." This is further reinforced by the team's secondary logo featuring a bear playing drums – another reference to the music culture in this southern city!
Another fun fact about this NBA franchise is that their mascot is named “Grit & Grind Grizz,” – reflecting how hardworking players on this squad are willing to put forth the effort every night, no matter what obstacles stand ahead!
All these elements come together perfectly when you look at why Memphis Grizzlies were given such an appropriate nickname: honoring both local wildlife while celebrating its unique cultural heritage through music makes it one truly special NBA franchise worth following season after season!
Championship
NBA Championships 0
Arena
2004 – Present / FedExForum
2001 – 2004 / Pyramid Arena
*Vancouver*
1995 – 2001 / General Motors Place
Owner
2012 – Present / Robert J. Pera
2000 – 2012 / Michael Heisley
1995 – 2000 / Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment
- 2000
- 2001
- 2004
- 2012
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Sold to Michael Heisley – Move to Memphis
Instead, John McCaw sold the team to Chicago-based Michael Heisley for US$160 million. At the time he stated that he intended to keep the team in Vancouver but immediately started a process to find a suitable relocation city in the US. Cities considered for relocation of the team included Memphis, Nashville, Las Vegas, New Orleans, St. Louis, Anaheim, San Diego, ... -
Grizzlies Relocate to Memphis
The Vancouver Grizzlies relocation to Memphis was a successful effort by the ownership group of the Vancouver Grizzlies to move the basketball team from the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia, to the U.S. city of Memphis, Tennessee. The team began to play as the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2001 – 2002 season. It was the first of three National ... -
FedExForum Opens
FedExForum is an arena located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, who previously played home games at the Pyramid Arena. The arena officially opened in September 2004 after much debate and also a derecho wind storm on July 22, 2003, that nearly brought down the cranes that were building it near ... -
Robert Pera Gains Control of the Grizzlies
On June 11, 2012, sources told ESPN.com that Michael Heisley had an agreement in principle to sell the Memphis Grizzlies to Robert Pera. The official sale of the Memphis Grizzlies to Pera was approved on October 25, 2012. Building on the successes of his predecessor, Michael Heisley, Pera has made significant investments into the Grizzlies, bolstering it’s business and basketball ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Memphis Grizzlies History
Memphis Grizzlies Achievements
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history