After a disappointing 2000-2001 season where the Vancouver Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs for a 6th straight season, it was reported that the Grizzlies would be relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, some 3900 kilometres away. While the team is gone, many Vancouverites are still nostalgic for those iconic turquoise and white jerseys. As locals still rep the team with pride, it begs the question, why did the team move in the first place?
After a disappointing 2000-2001 season where the Vancouver Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs for a 6th straight season, it was reported that the Grizzlies would be relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, some 3900 kilometers away. While the team is gone, many Vancouverites are still nostalgic for those iconic turquoise and white jerseys.
As locals still rep the team with pride, it begs the question, why did the team move in the first place?
The main reason the team relocated was that it was simply not a good team. After unfortunate draft lottery luck, failing to develop talent that was drafted, bad contracts, and lack of interest from NBA free agents, the team just couldn’t compete with top dogs. Steve Francis, future NBA All-Star, refused to play for the Grizzlies even though he was drafted by them.
Rooting for the underdogs is only fun for so long, and the organization could not give fans the win they craved.
Unfortunately in the problems on the court spilled over to the sidelines. The team was losing tens of millions of dollars every season due to poor attendance records (probably because of team performance) and lack of corporate sponsors (again, likely due to the terrible on-court product).
Teams can survive being in the basement for a couple of seasons, but if there is no upward trajectory, the financial picture will continue to worsen into insolvency.
An underrated factor towards the Grizzlies leaving the city was due to the weak dollar. Back then, the Loonie was 0.67 USD (sound familiar?) and even though revenue was collected in Canadian dollars, players and coaches were paid in USD.
This made salaries account for a bigger share of the total budget compared to other NBA teams and the bloated contracts the team gave to players to keep them in Vancouver didn’t help the situation.
While seeing Ja Morant at Rogers would be fun, looking at the situation, the Grizzlies couldn’t afford to stay in Vancouver. Fan apathy, poor management, player turndowns, and a weak dollar would destroy any sports organization.
That being said, the Toronto Raptors were able achieve success early thanks to the dynamic Vince Carter and built upon that success to a championship in 2019.
While Vancouverites could take pride in the remaining Canadian basketball team winning it all, many Grizzlies fans can’t help but see what could’ve been if things went a little differently.
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January 15, 2001: Shaquille O’Neal’s “buzzer beater” in overtime gives the Lakers a 113-112 win over Vancouver. O’Neal finished with 31 PTS/15 REB and Kobe Bryant recorded a triple double for Los Angeles—26 PTS/11 REB/11 AST. The Grizzlies' Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 32 PTS/12 REB.
Another sellout at Rogers Arena in Vancouver for the NBA. Tons of Grizzlies jerseys, hats and shirts in the crowd. Imagine if that franchise had only been given a fighting chance.
1995: do the vancouver grizzlies make us a world class city?
