WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES?//RELOCATED: HISTORY OF THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES DOCUMENTARY

In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the Vancouver Grizzlies when the NBA restricted the team from being as competitive as they could have been, ultimately resulting in the Vancouver Grizzlies move to Memphis.
Here's what this "Vancouver Grizzlies History" video covers:
The Vancouver Grizzlies, along with the Toronto Raptors were the first two NBA teams in Canada, in an historical expansion for the league. So what exactly led to the team leaving their home in Vancouver after just six seasons? In today’s video we’ll take a look back at how the team was largely set up to fail, with the team never gaining the traction they needed in Vancouver to succeed.
We'll also look back at Vancouver Grizzlies highlights from each of their six seasons in Vancouver. We'll cover the construction of General Motors Place, and the change in ownership involving Arthur Griffiths and John McCaw Jr. Then, we'll show how the Vancouver Grizzlies logo design looks very similar to another NBA team's logo. Bryant Reeves Big Country was drafted by the team in their first season, and quickly emerged as the face of the team and started in the Vancouver Grizzlies first game. In their second season, the Vancouver Grizzlies 1996 NBA Draft brought rookie of the year candidate Shareef Abdur-Rahim to the team. We'll also cover the Naismith Cup, featuring the match up of the Vancouver Grizzlies vs Toronto Raptors. Next we'll go over how the 1998-1999 NBA lockout negatively impacted the team in terms of attendance. And then the infamous 1999 NBA Draft pick, Steve Francis and his refusal to play for the Grizzlies after an incident at the Vancouver Airport. By the early 2000's John McCaw Jr. was ready to sell the team, and eventually sold the Grizzlies to Michael Heisley. With the team struggling financially, Heisley began the process of exploring moving the team and ended up picking Memphis, Tennessee as the team's new home. Finally, we'll see the Vancouver Grizzlies last game and how the team's legacy continues on to this day with the Memphis Grizzlies wearing 25th anniversary throwbacks featuring the old Vancouver Grizzlies jersey outfit.
So what did you think about the Grizzlies moving to Memphis from Vancouver? And what did you think about the NBA restricting the Raptors and Grizzlies salary cap in their first few years? Let me know in the comments below!
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES?//RELOCATED: HISTORY OF THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES DOCUMENTARY

[@AllSportsHistory]

Hey Sports Historians! What did you guys think about the Grizzlies moving to Memphis? And what did you think about the NBA restricting the Raptors and Grizzlies salary cap in their first few years? Let me know in the comments below!

[@Albert8044]

Speaking of the Grizzlies, fun facts: Steve Francis towards the near the end of his career had a very brief stint as a Grizzly in Memphis but didn't even play a single game and eventually got release prior to his return to Houston in the 07-08 season.

[@user-vr8ul3fd7d]

Did the late 80s expansion teams face the same restrictions?

[@AllSportsHistory]

@@user-vr8ul3fd7d that’s a great question, I believe they had similar restrictions in terms of not having the number one choice in their first year or so but I don’t think they had salary cap restrictions. I could be wrong though.

[@MrBlazemaster525]

@@user-vr8ul3fd7d to the best of my knowledge they did not

[@rickkaine2181]

@@AllSportsHistory They’ve shouldn’t have left Vancouver! And I say this being from Minnesota as I think NBA in Vancouver had potential

[@hihihi-gv3jj]

If NBA allowed the Grizzlies to draft higher or at #1 pick while they did have bad records, they could have landed AI in 1996 or Duncan in 1997. This definitely could turn the franchise around.

[@tylerriley2587]

It was also told that the grizzlies were trying to get Steve Nash which would’ve been very good but upper management did not want to give up their Darling Bryant Country Reeves smh

[@jonjonbailey4314]

Never no way Iverson n Vancouver!! Worse den Glove n Seattle. Now don't get me fucked up from Seattle ta San Diego Str8 West Coast Mane!! But if dey got Duncan dey a still b n Vancouver !!

[@jonjonbailey4314]

@@tylerriley2587 Why ain't dey get Nash seeing as he Canadian?? Dey ownership was stoopid

[@jonjonbailey4314]

@@tylerriley2587 now dats stoopid!! Even though Big County was like dey Jordan. U coulda had a countryman!!

[@tylerriley2587]

@@jonjonbailey4314 blame it on Stu Jackson

[@daveschmidt9230]

the vancouver Grizzlies were never given a chance they where doomed to fail from management to picks to ownership to the league everything worked towards getting vancouver out of the NBA and it work Vancouver deserves a fair chance to have the NBA back in the city

[@markyboy_productions]

I"m from Vancouver and Seattle. Both of my teams left and now I follow Portland. Missing both teams up here and now the fans from each city have a huge void especially with how popular the NBA is today.

[@ebonyknight5]

I was a bench player for the Grizzlies during their first season. We didn’t actually lose all of those games, we just ran out of time during our comebacks!

[@clovemartin]

Which player were you?

[@bensimmonsforr3]

U fr?

[@jefflebowski4287]

It sucks that the NBA will move a team from a great thriving city to a small mediocre one just to get free stadiums. Stern wanted the nba to be the #1 show in town, and hold cities hostage if they couldn’t get what they wanted. Has been really bad for the nba long term as the smaller markets fade once the team isn’t as competitive.

[@retrocollector101]

As a Vancouverite, I know that the love for basketball here is REAL!!! Just relocate or expand to Vancouver already please.

[@jaydurant3048]

Couldn’t agree more. Them and Seattle would make for a terrific rivalry.

[@g.b.alejandro6268]

I think Edmonton will be next after Seattle and Las Vegas, because of the previous exhibition games there. 🤔

[@cjvaye99]

I've actually been to Vancouver before and I have to say it's an extremely beautiful city. shame the NBA rather have teams in dumps like Memphis, OKC and New Orleans than a classy city like Vancouver

[@alexwinter3272]

​@@cjvaye99Where are you from?

[@cjvaye99]

@@alexwinter3272 don't even start with me. I'm from SoCal, North Hollywood. go ahead and talk your sh*t boy it's still a better place to live than New Orleans or Memphis. straight up 😂

[@abouttime5000]

The two Canadian teams met with a lot of American Team owners who wanted more franchises in the US. Both Canadian teams were walking on rice paper with a hook ready to take their franchises from them.

[@renlysotherlover294]

Listening to all the restrictions it feels like the nba did everything possible to make sure they failed

[@Seriously_Unserious]

As an early fan of the Grizzleys and a Vancouver resident, I felt the same way. The impressive thing out of that whole expansion was how the Raptors were somehow able to moneyball their way into being competitive early on like they did.

[@robinzinger5240]

@@Seriously_Unserious drafting Vince Carter was crucial for the Raptors becoming successful then

[@Seriously_Unserious]

@@robinzinger5240 No doubt. That and being able to find a supporting cast they could fill in around him of underappreciated players they could get an a bargain price year after year until they finally unlocked the full cap and could just bid on free agents and put in competitive offers on their players with expiring contracts and just build a team normally. In other words, exactly what the Oakland Athletics would do years later in the MLB. You could say the Toronto Raptors were the original Moneyball team, before that term was invented.

[@robertbruceryan]

@@Seriously_Unserious true - slightly better management I think. We had some weak owners at this end of the country. Drafted Steve Francis despite his clear messaging he did not want to be in Vancouver.

[@georgecoumbos2511]

@@Seriously_Unserious The Raptors almost didn’t make it to.

[@wilderac2250]

You forgot to mention that prior to the pandemic nba would occasionally have a neutral preseason game in Vancouver. Last one was, Mavericks vs Clippers in 2019.

[@JAG214]

The Fans that night were chanting we want Grizzlies which you can find a twitter video on that

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

As a diehard Memphis fan, I am overjoyed we got a franchise! And that Jerry West came to Memphis to ensure we would be better than in Vancouver. I'm so grateful to Vancouver, I want them to get a franchise as soon as another expansion takes place! They deserve their own team, and I'm infinitely grateful they gave us one.

[@markd9272]

Hardly “gave”…but I recognize the spirit of your comment.

[@georgecoumbos2511]

Thank you, much appreciated!! Hope the PNW gets their teams back.

[@pouncingpantherpucks2779]

That's like such a backhanded, thank you to Vancouver😂😂

[@alexwinter3272]

Only if we get the Grizzlies name back

[@wilderac2250]

Lionel Holins eventually became head coach of both the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Memphis Grizzlies

[@AllSportsHistory]

Also Steve Francis was traded back to the Grizzlies at the very end of 2008, but never appeared during a game for them and was cut by the team just a few weeks later (payback I guess?) Francis later ended up in China with the Beijing Ducks.

[@robertbruceryan]

@@AllSportsHistory cool observation, SF was a huge impact in the downfall, among other issues.

[@jaydurant3048]

Hollins was a jerk.

[@werthmelissa]

As a Vancouverite, I miss when Rogers Arena used to be called GM place! We affectionately nicknamed it the garage because of its name! I wasn't born yet when the Grizzlies arrived, but I did go to so many events post-Grizzles as a kid mainly the Disney On Ice shows and a couple of concerts. GM place got renamed as Rogers Arena on July 6, 2010 just five months after having the Winter Olympics hosting the ice hockey events that same year. I only went to a couple of live Vancouver Canucks games in 2017 and 2019.

[@Albert8044]

Piss poor ownership and front office was the biggest downfall of the Grizzlies in Vancouver not to mention lack of a real fanbase and bad drafting not to mention Steve Francis refusal to play in Vancouver lead to the relocation to Memphis 2 years later.

[@robertbruceryan]

please do not blame the fans. Agree with the rest of your comments.

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

I want everybody to know this about me: I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. Portland used to be my favorite vacation spot, but since 2012, Vancouver BC has been my favorite place to visit (so, for about 18 months, I was struggling, when we couldn't travel to and from Canada). I LOVED those original Vancouver Grizzlies jerseys, with the Native American trimming! I have my GRIZZLIES 50 REEVES, and GRIZZLIES 4 SCOTT jerseys!

[@deonal]

As the Vancouver - Seattle NHL rivalry heats up over the couple of years, the NBA will be watching the ratings. Next expansion was promised to Seattle who now have the arena,so it's Vegas or Vancouver. Edge to Vegas they have a certain group of people with money tied to the NBA...

[@jaydurant3048]

If Vegas had showed that they could pull a solid fanbase and I would agree. However I see the NBA allowing those cities to gather ownership which I can see being out together.

[@expos4everac]

Certain group of people??? I'm pretty sure 90% of all sport teams are owned by these Certain group of people that wear small hats

[@deonal]

@@expos4everac 😙

[@PhatMon920]

I’m just old enough to remember when the Grizzlies were in Vancouver. I grew up 10 minutes north of Portland and as a Blazers fan it was so cool when there were 3 NBA teams in the Pacific NW. The Grizzlies had the best jerseys in the NBA.

[@vinceniederman]

The Logo That The Grizzlies Had In Vancouver Was One of My Favorites As a Kid!

[@kw9377]

Seems like lots of people are wearing grizzlies stuff now.

[@vinceniederman]

@@kw9377 That Logo The Grizzlies Had in Vancouver Was The Best!

[@drudawg4208]

Hated the jerseys at the time...now I love them. Walking around van city with it feels like a privilege not a disgrace anymore

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah they’ve grown on me as well!

[@kw9377]

Ya it’s hot items now even in the states.. I see a lot of celebrities and rappers wear them

[@ytanonymity3585]

Lol what? That jersey was and is dope as hell, period. I love it more than the Memphis version one

[@Official_Kings_Versus]

I bought the (Vancouver) Grizzlies fitted hat w/ the side patch of their inaugural season from Lids recently 👍🏾💯

[@mathewlee5712]

David Stern admitted that he pulled the plug too early on Vancouver. That's the reason why his good friend Gary Bettman refuses to relocate failing NHL franchises in the south.

[@AllSportsHistory]

That maybe true, but those southern teams are getting to be 20+ years old now. How much more time does he need haha.

[@freakyfornash]

At least the Thrashers moved to a city where they belong, and are appreciated! Hopefully the Coyotes, and Panthers will be next too! (L.O.L.!)

[@mathewlee5712]

@@freakyfornash With the amount of money WASTED to save the Coyotes in AZ, they should've NEVER left Winnipeg! The Coyotes is the only major pro sports franchises I know of that remains in the league despite poor attendances, weak ratings, and unstable ownership. The Vancouver Grizzlies have nothing to be ashamed compared to the Coyotes. The FL Panthers, and Carolina Panthers are next in line. I so wished Bettman would resign.

[@freakyfornash]

@@mathewlee5712 I know, really!

[@ytgc-royalewarex5190]

They have a dope jersey and logo though ! I guess they're harder to find now but I wish I could found any of them in an online store. Vancouver jersey are looking good tbh

[@laulakh]

I went to handful of games and went to last games. Many kids like me were in tears. The fan support potential was here. Sad thing is a team will never be back to Vancouver and the entire area here loves basketball and a team will do amazing.

[@cjvaye99]

those 90s grizzlies and raptors jerseys tho 🔥🔥🔥

[@itsnotme328]

We need the Sonics back it sucks not having a basketball ball team here and fyi Seattle sonics were champions in 1979

[@vinceniederman]

@All Sports History Its Crazy That The Grizzlies Played Only 6 Seasons in Vancouver Before Moving to Memphis Due to Bad Seasons!

[@georgecoumbos2511]

No city got screwed over more then Vancouver did, with the Grizzlies. Seattle and Vancouver need their teams back!!

[@vinceniederman]

Agreed and Hope Both Cities Have The NBA Return In The Future!

[@kw9377]

Sadly Vegas will get it before both

[@vinceniederman]

@@kw9377 I Would Love To See The NBA in Las Vegas As a 76ers Fan on The East Coast!

[@zacharyspicuglia3555]

Super underrated channel. These videos are awesome

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you, appreciate it!!

[@salvatore316]

Knowing now what's needed for a franchise to succeed and how it's very important to have a stable ownership with money inflow, a stable fanbase with marketing abilities, a stable clan of basketball savy scouts, a smart GM and coaching staff, and the ability to draft key players and sign free agents that make sense, Vancouver should get their act together and try to get another NBA team back in the city.

[@joeybagadonuts5774]

Those draft/salary cap rules were absurd!!! I remember when Vancouver moved after only 6 seasons thinking WTF???

[@noonevincecarterfan]

Wau! What amazing work! Such in depth info! Bravo!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistoryShame The Grizzlies Were So Bad in Vancouver!

[@thedetshow3610]

These are always great vids....

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you, appreciate it!!

[@rexpresto]

Always great to see a new video of yours. Have you ever thought of doing a video on the old World Football League?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!! Yeah I’d like to eventually start doing “What happened to…” on defunct leagues so the WFL would be a great topic to cover.

[@thebrotasticbro9465]

Early gang yo videos are so satisfying bro i easily lose track of time while watching

[@AllSportsHistory]

Love to hear that man, glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@thebrotasticbro9465]

@@AllSportsHistory appreciate it brother keep up the good work

[@BillyJoeMcallister]

Imagine if the Grizzlies and Raptors had similar expansion arrangements to the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken of the NHL. Vancouver would be thriving today, it still has a huge basketball following.

[@fonzworthbentley7455]

The Seattle WHAT? Is that what that blue "S" logo was? I had no clue

[@idbuyanewbmx]

That's so messed up that both Toronto and Vancouver had their hands tied for the first few seasons. Makes no sense to me. Maybe a video for another day? Like, what was the purpose? Sounds like punishment. Commish wants the team to succeed in Vancouver, but has them build with an arm behind their back.

[@AllSportsHistory]

I just think the NBA didn’t think it through, and wanted to make sure new teams didn’t have some crazy advantage over the other teams. Problem was that they made it too difficult, and it obviously caused issues. But both the NBA and NHL have rectified that, for example the Golden Knights have been great right from the start.

[@idbuyanewbmx]

@@AllSportsHistory great point. Thank you for your insight!

[@rwboa22]

That was nothing new. The NBA did the same to the four former ABA teams that joined the NBA (New York/New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs), with the Nets being whacked twice with both the expansion fee and the additional fee imposed by the NBA in order to play in the NYC metro area, forcing the Nets, who won the last ABA Championship, to sell the contract of Julius "Dr. J." Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers in order to play. Plus the four ABA teams were not allowed any picks in the 1976 NBA Draft, however they were allowed to select players in the ABA Dispersal Draft.

[@idbuyanewbmx]

@@rwboa22 I had no idea! Great info!

[@marvinwhittaker88]

They oughta do a segment on "What Ever Happened To The Houston Comets Of The WNBA". They won the first four WNBA finals and just went away. Only The Los Angeles Sparks and The New York Liberty are the two original franchises of the first year of the WNBA.

[@vinceniederman]

I Would Like To See That Video From All Sports History About The WNBA!

[@AndreInThe416]

The restrictions placed on those 2 new teams were simply outrageous. Even the salary cap encumbrance defies explanation.

[@calicojack3628]

I remember Gatorade had a contest in 1996, where you got a team and number of games printed on the bottle cap, if you got the team and games of the champion you won the grand prize. I ALWAYS got "Vancouver Grizzlies in 4"

[@EmpSurge]

Grizzlies are finally really good. Also that old school Vancouver Grizzlies logo is fire

[@cobii5174]

yoooo these videos r awesome i love the hockey ones too !!! more of those pls 🙏🏽🙏🏽 keep it up man

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!! Glad you’re enjoying them, more are coming :)

[@cobii5174]

@@AllSportsHistory awesome man 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@billygodd6703]

really well done video. had no idea about all the financial issues from the jump. they really were not in a position to succeed from day 1. in my mind the steve francis debacle was the final straw. when you cant even get your top draft picks to play for you, an already limited and skeptical fan base isnt going to buy in at all. if they were able to put a winning team on the court at least once or generate some excitement maybe they could have kept it going for a while longer. it doesnt seem like Memphis is a viable location for the team either. looks like they're pretty much stuck in their lease till 2027. maybe by then Seattle will have its act together and the team could become the Sonics

[@AllSportsHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it! My guess is the NBA will have an expansion before 2027, which would most likely grant Seattle a team. I could be wrong though and it may take longer, seems like with massive financial losses last year due to COVID, the owners are getting antsy to have a quick injection of billions of dollars from expansion teams.

[@briansedeyn8757]

You should do one on the original Charlotte Hornets or like a combined one with the Bobcats as well!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah those would be good, might have to be a two-parter!

[@cooperwolfe5478]

This was a great video. It will be interesting to see what will happen if the Grizzlies move again. My personal opinion is that either them or the Pelicans will move to Seattle, but I do think that there is a possibility that both could leave their cities. Even though I’m not from their I believe that St. Louis is a great sports town, and they should have an NBA team.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you! Yeah it’s always amazed me that St. Louis or Pittsburgh haven’t gotten an NBA team yet.

[@analogkid4957]

@@AllSportsHistory their great hockey towns rather than basketball towns

[@mpaszyn1]

st. louis is such a great sports town that they managed to keep the rams

[@richardkey4289]

The owner of the grizzlies at one point " Wal Mart Willie" ( he married into the Walton family ) threatened to move the grizzlies to St.Louis , but went to the media with this before bringing it up with the NBA , that didn't go over well...

[@wilderac2250]

I kind of find it weird that both the mlb and Nba both had two franchises in Canada but now only the Toronto teams remain.

[@generationrednex3217]

I’m with you, but I believe the Tampa Bay Rays will end up in Montreal

[@wraynephew6838]

@@generationrednex3217 not a chance. Baseball is more popular in Tampa then in Montreal. Plus Rays are very strong team right now that can compete for the Title as world champions.

[@generationrednex3217]

@@wraynephew6838 I know, they are a good team, they don’t have the drawing power as they ever expected. I think they will still go to Montreal in the next few years

[@StormtrooperMr12]

I still hope canada gets a second team again, would be nice to see another vancouver team, or maybe from a new city in canada

[@trxv.]

best jerseys of all time

[@bjnt92281]

They did consider changing their name to the Express because of FedEx who’s corporate offices are located in Memphis. Even considered changing their color to orange and purple which are FedEx’s colors. But the NBA squashed that.

[@rockvilleraven]

The Alliance of American Football later had a team called the Memphis Express, that league went belly up after a few games.

[@Seriously_Unserious]

I was a Grizzleys fan for a while, until the NBA's crappy rules made it clear the Grizzleys would never be a competitive team, combined with management that were not geniuses enough to find some way to do basketball's version of moneyball to finagle a competitive team out of nothing. At the time I was pissed at the NBA, calling them the National Bush Association and remained pissed and boycotting all things NBA for nearly a decade after. That "special cap" meant the Grizz lost guys like Byrant Scott who where rays of hope that we could one day have something better and that it was normal back then for expansion teams to struggle for their first few years.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah they really screwed over Vancouver, any team that starts and fails after only six seasons falls squarely on the commissioners shoulders.

[@Seriously_Unserious]

@@AllSportsHistory I wouldn't say always. For example, the Colorado Rockies (NHL version not MLB version) died in just a few years because of horrible management. They did incomparably better in New Jersey as the Devils, but their failure in Colorado was not anything the NHL did wrong, but Colorado's own crappy management. There were no rules in the NHL hindering the Rockies that I'm aware of, they just made the worst possible decisions. They had Don Cherry coaching them and the team was so bad that Grapes nicknamed an entire variety of goals (weak shots from centre ice) after one of their goalies, the infamous "Hardy Astrom Special". Speaking of Canadian sports, I'd love to see a furture episode of this series dedicated to the history of the Montreal Alloettes, both the originals, and the ones transplanted from Baltimore. The CFL doesn't get nearly the love it deserves in the media, IMO.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah that's a good point! Man the Scouts/Rockies/Devils had a crazy start to their history haha. I guess what I meant was like the buck stops with the commissioner, in that for sure bad team management and ownership is obviously a contributing factor but the commissioner also has the job of protecting the league from allowing crazy management to happen. For example, my team the Dodgers had a shitty owner in Frank McCourt who ran the team into the ground so bad that in 2011 Bud Selig (who actually did something right for once) stepped in and basically took the team away from McCourt and forced him out. But yeah more videos on the CFL would be great to cover! I've got a bit of a to do list of topics, but I'll be sure to add more CFL to it :)

[@Seriously_Unserious]

@@AllSportsHistory The league stepping in to save a team that's poorly managed or who's ownership went bankrupt and broke can be huge. My own favorite football team, the BC Lions, would have died before their 1994 Grey Cup win in BC Place could have happened if the CFL hadn't stepped up when the previous owner, Murray Pezzim lost everything in a bad stock market, including his CFL team. Eventually new owners took over and the 1994 story book season happened. That was extra special for me as I'd managed to snag tickets to the Grey Cup game that year and then the team won all 3 playoff games like they'd done it all season long that year, in the last play with a heroic comeback. I think about half their games went into overtime and a couple were not even settled then, ending in a tie, something almost unheard of in football. Man, that was a crazy year that would never have been without good league management at the time.

[@markd9272]

As a Sonics and Grizzlies fan up here in the Pacific Northwest, I can say that I haven’t watched a single NBA game since carpetbagger Stern sodomized the region. Haven’t missed much evidently - with a Chinese Communist Party puppet as their posterboy (LeBron) and the game becoming a 3-pointer exhibition.🖕🏼

[@Matt-gm5]

Memphis needs to relocate back there

[@robertbruceryan]

yup - just need some big money bags due or dudette to make it so.

[@rockvilleraven]

@@robertbruceryan My brother once said there's a booming economy is Seattle and the Grizzlies should move there.

[@grant9061]

Could you do a Wrigley Field video like how you did MSG ?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah for sure! I definitely want to keep making more videos on stadiums and arenas so Wrigley would be a great one to cover!

[@MrCultivater]

Very interesting to know that shoppers bought the rest of the season tickets for both the Van and Tor.

[@djtrankilo231]

Also, I wonder how Vancouverites felt when the Raptors won in 2019

[@robertbruceryan]

As a Vancouver Grizzlies Fan, I simply love the game and so was super happy for TO to win. The game is simply beautiful to watch regardless of the team - amazing athletes on all teams. Would have loved to still have the game closer to home though.

[@BOBT3AM]

Am not a fan of nba or basketball in general but Vancouver need to get they team back and expand with a new team in Montreal

[@1st_mhalam944]

The NBA and the ownership ruined the chance of nba in west Canada

[@jaydurant3048]

@ 3:00 finally something we can thank the RCMP for!

[@mollycaz1]

The league made it hard for Vancouver to make it

[@julienmalfair5870]

waiting 1 year and drafting pau might have saved our team

[@mrmoose6619]

One thing I can't get over is that the Memphis Pyramid was only built in 1991... the building was only 13 years old when the FedEx Forum was opened... and I believe that the Pyramid was purpose built to attract the NBA...

[@incrptwesupport3959]

Can you make a video about the relocated history & what happened to Kansas City Kings ?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah I’ll put it on my to do list :)

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistory I Can’t Wait For That Video About The Kings in Kansas City Before They Moved to California!

[@zxmoore1]

Until the Canadian dollar strengthens, it’s going to be very difficult to maintain a team in Canada. And that goes with every sport playing in an American League. Even current Canadian NHL teams are struggling financially

[@vinceniederman]

Shame The Vancouver Grizzlies Never Had a Winning Season in Vancouver Before Moving To Memphis Tennessee!

[@georgecoumbos2511]

The PNW deserves its teams back !!

[@squidMB]

The grizzlies have one of the best jerseys in league history. Canada wants Vancouver back! (I would also like the Seattle Supersonics too)

[@vinceniederman]

Agreed and I Liked The Logo That The Grizzlies Had in Vancouver!

[@stevenjames7645]

I think the next expansion should be Vancouver and Seattle

[@AllSportsHistory]

That would be amazing!

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

Would have to be one or the other, they’re too close geographically.

[@mrgreekgm754]

I'm from Vancouver as much as I would love that not a chance we outbid Las Vegas.

[@stevenjames7645]

@@mrgreekgm754 never say never Mr Greek I'm from Toronto and vancity needs it's team back

[@jefflebowski4287]

Or just give us our teams back

[@atlantis_risingTV]

Should do one on the Buffalo Braves

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep that would be a good one!

[@RyDawwg1]

I was at the draft party the year Steve Nash was drafted … the whole friggin arena when it came to the Grizzlies pick where chanting ‘Nash,Nash,Nash’ .. local kid comes home.. and they passed … the whole arena booed…and that was another major problem.. piss poor drafting

[@kimcokevin]

I wonder if they had traded down and drafted Steve Nash, if that would have saved the team.

[@christopherdonaldson8231]

Miss Big Country Reeves!

[@ettnollbajen9945]

Those rules both the grizzlies and the raptors had to live by is insane ,no top 5 picks or full cap for three years ,why did the NBA want to expand if having rules like this? Idiots

[@David-yw2lv]

Vancouver is hockey country, I do expect the city is on the list of potential MLB expansion or relocation.

[@joshhouston3443]

Grizzlies Draft selections: 1995: Big Country Reeves 1996: Shareef Abdur-Rahim 1997: Antonio Daniels 1998: Mike Bibby 1999: Steve Francis 2000: Stromile Swift Who they should've actually drafted IMO 1995: Jerry Stackhouse 1996: Either AI, Nash or Kobe 1997: Tmac or Stephen Jackson 1998: Dirk Nowitzki 1999: Lamar Odom 2000: Kenyon Martin The team was never given a chance from the get-go, terrible management from the head office and ownership, Stu Jackson, and mediocore draft picks

[@AllSportsHistory]

That’s a pretty good list, I wonder if any of those would have pulled a Steve Francis and bailed on Vancouver?

[@georgecoumbos2511]

I love that the team is now finally starting to thrive in Memphis but they should’ve never left to begin with. City was ripped off badly.

[@mattymatt2323]

I legit thought the Vancouver Grizzlies was still a team until 30 secs ago

[@bamesbamesbames]

I was a kid living an hour drive from Vancouver during this time, and Grizzlies tickets were hella cheap, often given away. Reef was a superstar, Big Country was good until he got fat, and SuperGrizz was a decent mascot. But yeaaaah they sucked big time.

[@zwfan1983]

Vegas and Seattle make the most sense for NBA expansion.

[@gb6710]

Do the Hornets or Packers please. Like the story of the Hornets relocation or the Packers fall from grace after the retirement of Vince Lombardi.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Those would be great topics to cover, definitely would like to make a video on the Hornets leaving and the Bobcats turning back into the Hornets.

[@tylerriley2587]

How would everything turn out if the Vancouver Grizzlies drafted Vince Carter? Do they stay or do they leave town and relocate somewhere else or do they stay

[@AllSportsHistory]

Having a star like Vince Carter certainly would have helped, but the NBA tied the Grizzlies hands behind their back in an already tough market to break through. My guess is the team would have eventually moved anyway.

[@tylerriley2587]

@@AllSportsHistory so Vince Carter probably would’ve demanded a trade if they left town

[@panowa8319]

In my opinion, some of it had to do with poor ownership despite the value of the Canadian dollar. Not willing to put money into the tv or radio market or look for sponsors.

[@AllSportsHistory]

For sure, I think the owners were unprepared with how different running an NBA teams than an NHL team. Hockey is a much easier sell than basketball in Canada understandably.

[@johnnunes2993]

Both Canadian Teams were set-up to fail from the beginning. The rules on drafting players and spending limits in the first few years hurt both teams. The difference was Toronto had Vince Carter and Vancouver had nobody. When the Raptors drafted Carter , it changed the franchise, it’s too bad Steve Francis didn’t play for them, it probably would have saved them as well.

[@jasonmilly3320]

Apparently they actually favored Louisville over Memphis. But Rick Pitino, very heavy presence in the city/state stepped in and demand it not happen. He wanted this place to be strictly UofL. Didn't want a NBA team taking spotlight away. Things along those lines. I've never hated Pitino (still don't even after all that's gone on with UofL) but that part of him I'll always hate. UofL will always be #1 in the city regardless if there's a NBA team here, it doesn't matter. But with that said NBA would survive here. Louisville is a bigger market than Memphis too for whatever that's worth.

[@rockvilleraven]

Fact: the Preseason single game NBA attendance record in s at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville with 21,000

[@peterjermyn5785]

If the NBA ever expands it should expand to 40 teams because it plays 82 games a year that would create a chance for everybody to play everybody twice with just 1 division rival also it would create jobs chances of playing pro basketball is 1 in 100,000 this would create thin talent and no more than 1 superstar per team

[@davidalexander8996]

The New Orleans Pelicans should move any day now. Not only with the arena situation but do they really have a chance with the resilient Saints in town? If Vancouver is not a viable option Louisville should be wide open unless a Pitino Jr. is in position to block such a move. St. Louis should have a second chance at basketball one way or another; it's even more of an injustice they lost the Hawks than the football teams, though NFL expansion could work in the Gateway City with the right owner and stadium.

[@david_pitt43]

Who's next for the defunct teams?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thrashers!

[@jwood8769]

What about the Baltimore Bullets?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah that’s a good one! I’ll add it to my list.

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistory Good Idea and If U Didn’t Know This Fact They Changed The Name From The Bullets to The Wizards Cause of The Crime in D.C at The Time!

[@dave2518]

I miss grizzlies in vancouver

[@AllSportsHistory]

Me too!

[@generationrednex3217]

Love the Grizzlies in Memphis, been to a few games at Fed Ex Forum. Great experience.

[@mrgreekgm754]

I think it's a joke they left Vancouver for that trash smaller market.

[@generationrednex3217]

Yet they are doing great in Memphis, right off Beale Street, just down from Autozone Park. Evidently Memphis is drawing better than Vancouver could ever dream of

[@heyitsevan758]

@@generationrednex3217 Memphis loves the Grizzlies, and I believe many of the players on the team love the city. I know that finances were the reason for the move, but I wonder if Vancouver would have ever supported the team the way Memphis does. I’m sure the city would now since the move left a bad taste in their mouth, but I believe the move to Memphis was the right move for the franchise.

[@wutzittoya]

Waymin canada made hockey and basketball?

[@jonjonbailey4314]

Shareef Abdur Rahim was da Nia Str8 Outta Cal Berkeley!!! I alwayz wish Warriors got him!!

[@jonjonbailey4314]

I thought Dat da Pyramid was Rock n Roll Hall of Fame!!

[@coastaku1954]

What I don't get is why basketball players have such bad attitudes when it comes to their trades and drafts? Like the amount of reports I hear of new drafts and trades just not showing up is outrageous. I don't care if you personally don't like the team, you have a job to do and you're being paid a lot for it too

[@djtrankilo231]

I wonder if Vancouver would do well now?? Also, are rumors about the Grizzlies moving from Memphis still being heard??

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah I heard about that too, but the Grizzlies lease with FedEx Forum runs until 2027. So while they could always break the lease, it could be pretty costly to do so. Unlikely they move IMO until sometime around then, if at all.

[@g.rainey]

The Grizzlies aren’t going anywhere. The owner said they will stay in Memphis through 2027. The most likely team to move is the Pelicans in 2025 once their lease is up.

[@jaydurant3048]

No doubt Vancouver would do terrific.

[@youtuber3328]

please tell me why did the grizzlies leave vancouver

[@AllSportsHistory]

Not enough actual Grizzlies in Vancouver sadly, had to move because of it...

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistory U Should Try To Do a WNBA Someday of The Charlotte Sting or The Houston Comets of Your Choice!

[@roccosteo8328]

I wish St. Louis would’ve got the grizzlies

[@vinceniederman]

Why?

[@roccosteo8328]

@@vinceniederman a local team to root for

[@vinceniederman]

@@roccosteo8328 Yup and Have a Rivalry With The Bulls in The NBA and Imagine If The Grizzlies Moved To St Louis Instead of Memphis Tennessee?

[@williamford9564]

Onerous term against expansion teams were very common back then as both these teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Ottawa Senators in hockey and then a few years later the Cleveland Browns were essentially set up to fail. It seems the NBA has learned it's lesson and so has the NHL as its rules today allow a team to be potentially competitive right away, as illustrated by the Vegas Golden Knights.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep my thoughts exactly!

[@erikriggs4954]

I think you should do an episode on how Atlanta lost 2 NHL teams to Canadian cities.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep Thrashers are next!

[@master-kq3nw]

Small crowd maybe that francis come 1999 who knows maybe grizzlies would stay in Vancouver without superstar hard ,also basketball in 90s Canada was not popular

[@ronniesouthern7829]

The Grizzlies name just doesn’t sound right in Memphis.

[@jonjonbailey4314]

12:55 Now u c how baad Golden State was back n da day!! Dats why ain't nobody n Oakland or da City Situation let lone from Vallejo ta San Jo gon b quiet cuz if u a real GSW Hoop nia like me u know!! 2023Champs I On Citas

[@BBB4416]

The way Van city got shafted by the NBA is the reason I never watch that garbage

[@sugarbear522]

Did the Grizzlies ever make the playoffs while in Vancouver?

[@AllSportsHistory]

No they never won more than 23 games in their six seasons in Vancouver and they finished last in their division almost every year.

[@stevenbauer4799]

nba set them up to fail (t o as well). they were like the nhl's kc scouts. grizz never had a chance to survive in vanc. #kn stern. big country was a failure too