Vancouver Grizzlies

Vancouver Grizzlies
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMidwest
Founded1995
HistoryVancouver Grizzlies
1995–2001
Memphis Grizzlies
2001–present[1][2]
ArenaGeneral Motors Place
LocationVancouver, British Columbia
Team colorsTurquoise, bronze, red
     
Team managerStu Jackson (1994–2000)
Billy Knight (2000–2001)
Head coachBrian Winters (1995–1997)
Stu Jackson (1997)
Brian Hill (1997–1999)
Lionel Hollins (1999–2000)
Sidney Lowe (2000–2001)
OwnershipOrca Bay Sports and Entertainment (1995–2000)
Michael Heisley (2000–2001)
Championships0
Conference titles0
Division titles0
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Road jersey
Team colours
Road

The Vancouver Grizzlies were a Canadian professional basketball team that played in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team started playing in 1995. They started with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. They relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001 and became the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies played their home games at the General Motors Place (Now Rogers Arena). The Grizzlies were originally going to be called the Vancouver Mounties but were forced to find a new name because the RCMP objected it.[3]

The team had struggled in their early years and they finished last in their division in five of their six seasons. Over their six seasons, they had an overall record of 101 wins and 359 loses and were never able to make it to the playoffs.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

After the 1998–99 lockout, the team suffered low attendance and a weak Canadian dollar was making the owner Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment lose money on the franchise. After they failed to sell the team to Bill Laurie, it was instead sold to Michael Heisley.[10] At the time, Heisley said that he was going to keep the team in Vancouver, but he then immediately started looking for a suitable relocation city in the US.[11][12] He would eventually move the team to Memphis, Tennessee for the 2001-02 season.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "NBA History: Teams". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. February 25, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  2. ↑ "NBA.com/Stats–Memphis Grizzlies seasons". Stats.NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  3. ↑ Donovan, Michael Leo (1997). The Name Game: Football, Baseball, Hockey & Basketball How Your Favorite Sports Teams Were Named. Toronto: Warwick Publishing. ISBN 1-895629-74-8.
  4. ↑ "1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  5. ↑ "1996-97 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  6. ↑ "1997-98 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on 2014-09-27. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  7. ↑ "1998-99 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  8. ↑ "1999-00 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  9. ↑ "2000-01 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball Reference. Archived from the original on 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  10. ↑ "Vancouver Grizzlies back up for sale". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 2011-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  11. ↑ "Chicagoan Buys Grizzlies, Says They'll Stay In Vancouver". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  12. ↑ "Owner of Grizzlies Tours Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. March 2001. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  13. ↑ "NBA Approves Grizzlies' Move". Los Angeles Times. 4 July 2001. Retrieved 2014-09-29.

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