Worst Franchise Ever | The Story Behind The Vancouver Grizzlies

The people of Vancouver deserved better, but there's no one guilty party to point the finger at. Their short-lived NBA team was done in by unstable ownership, an incompetent front office, the league itself putting up road blocks to early draft success, and alright, maybe a little by Steve Francis' unwillingness to play there.
Written & Narrated by: Joseph Casciaro (@JosephCasciaro | Twitter)
Produced & Edited by: Brandon Jordan (@BrandonJordan3 | Instagram)
Thumbnail Design by: Daniel Long (@DloSupreme | Instagram)
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#VancouverGrizzlies #MemphisGrizzles #NBA

[@jayjayson9613]

The NBA is just as much to blame for the Grizzlies failure in Vancouver.

[@jacklowe74]

really. they could have been a serious team if they weren't screwed over by stupid rules

[@nucks2233]

Truth. We got screwed hard and Stern always regretted letting us and the Sonics leave. That stupid idiot. Us and Seattle are two of the best markets in NA

[@mr.salamanca1724]

That's a stupid rule as it hindered the expansion teams' success for years. Both Raps and Grizz shouldn't have agreed to that.

[@aaadj2744]

@@jacklowe74 Stupid NBA draft rules and with the worst manager for Vancouver

[@stephenclemente7045]

Very true

[@Tykoon22]

I was a kid in Vancouver when the Grizzlies came to town, and despite how terrible they were, the city had genuine love and excitement for the team. I went to a bunch of games, and most of the time, the best part was the mascot “Grizz“, a regular grizzly bear during the first half of games, but in the second half, he would transform into a costumed superhero grizzly bear named “super Grizz”, Who ran around the arena with a gang of cheerleaders, performing ridiculous stunts, and shooting his hand held t-shirt cannon into the crowd… It was awesome. Also, I don’t remember exactly which season it was, but I remember one night when the Shaq/Kobe Lakers were in town, the Grizzlies actually won that game and everyone was celebrating like we had just won the championship--but I guess when you’re team is that bad for that long, you take what you can get. With better decision making and ownership, The franchise absolutely could have worked and been successful in Vancouver like the Raptors in Toronto. Whenever the NBA decides to have it’s next round of expansion, Seattle is first in line no question, but beyond that, they should legitimately consider a return to Vancouver.

[@gameimprovements4347]

That's an amazing story dude. Wish you guys still had them!

[@jakehale817]

As a Memphis Grizzlies fan living in Tennessee, I hate it for you guys. Hopefully you all will be considered as a second expansion team behind Seattle, but it may be hard for the NBA to pass on going to Vegas.

[@haydartellez5367]

I was a kid in Vancouver when the Grizzlies were around too. Even though they sucked it made me a lifelong NBA fan haha

[@alexc9199]

but then dont you think that will be too many teams in the PNW? portland, seattle, vancouver..? all in the same vicinity

[@Tykoon22]

Not unless you think there were too many PNW teams the first time around as well--Vancouver, Seattle and Portland all had NBA teams in the late 90s with the Grizzlies, Sonics and Blazers, and it was great... and although 2/3 of those teams would ultimately be relocated, it was never because of too many teams in the same region, they all had their own dedicated fan bases, and two of them had their teams straight up stolen from them after doing nothing to deserve it. Personally, I love the Pacific Northwest and I honestly think the region is underutilized and under represented when it comes to pro sports. Portland only having one team with the Blazers across the big four pro leagues in North America (NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB) is kind of ridiculous, same deal in Vancouver having only the Canucks, and Seattle having the Seahawks and Mariners is great, but that’s still only two teams, and a city like Seattle should absolutely have a team in all four major sports. Thankfully, the NHL figured that out a few years ago and finally decided to put an expansion team in Seattle, and they will officially start play in the 2021/22 season (Go KRAKEN!), so now all they need is for the Sonics to come back. Having said all of that, there is still one sport I haven’t mentioned yet, and that’s soccer. Mainly because I’m not a big soccer fan, so I don’t really follow the sport, and because Major League Soccer (MLS) isn’t really considered One of the big pro leagues, (at least not yet), despite the leagues rapid expansion and sheer amount of fans, especially in the PNW region. MLS is currently the only pro sports league with teams in all three cities, Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. All three teams, (and every other team in the league), have massive fan support and sell out every game, and their close proximity to one another only serves to strengthen the natural rivalry between the teams, and everyone knows organic, geographic rivalries are the best rivalries, and the same would be true for basketball, hockey or any other sport.

[@ibhansanity]

Atleast they got their uniforms right.

[@blacklily250]

Hindsight 2020. Ain’t nobody associated their uniform as cool back in the days

[@mikecoxbig7046]

unlike the Canucks.

[@_DORT_]

@@blacklily250 same with the raptors

[@supermario_49]

Their uniforms were so fire 🔥

[@nekmoliver7228]

I am coming for you

[@markusweeks9074]

The NBA needs a new team in the northwest whether it’s Seattle or Vancouver

[@S7ayMelo]

Even tho I’m from Canada, Seattle needs it’s team back

[@cj9288]

Yea I think they should bring back the Seattle Super Sonics

[@zb5913]

It should be Seattle & Vancouver. Move Memphis & New Orleans the East simple! Vancouver fans were robbed

[@mikeyjames]

The NBA will never expand into Canada and Raptors would push against another team cutting into their Market. No way the NBA expands into Canada again.

[@zb5913]

@@mikeyjames Raptors would be dummies to have that mind set. They can’t get national coverage in the States for the life of them. Toronto Vs Vancouver would revive the Naismith Cup and would be a Christmas Day annual classic for all Canadians to enjoy a classic East Vs West battle.

[@jsfourdirections]

Honestly man, Vancouver has such a great basketball culture it's sad to watch this! The city deserves better

[@mikecoxbig7046]

They gave our city a good slap in the face! It sucks!

[@JayPee25]

Vancouver BC got done dirty. They would of been a great NBA city with a competent franchise

[@steeltownbrown52]

Maybe they would have.

[@empire0]

I live near there, no they wouldn't have. Vancouver is a very fair weather sports city

[@capitainemathieu7966]

Exaclty vancouver is so rich, this city need a NBA franchise. Make rivalty between vancouver and seattle.

[@cheqit2048]

@@empire0 i live here; i think maybe your saying that cause of your mentality/the heads you hang out with(every city got their fair weathers). i know lots of die hard fans for the nucks for example, plus you cant drive by east side without seeing a ball court filled with some dreamers. i remember the night the grizzlies loss that decided the move, people were choked downtown

[@doublestrokeroll]

A scam which was the very method they used to take the Sonics out of Seattle. In fact, it was also the blue print for the scam of moving the expos.

[@kendostick34]

From ‘97 to their end, the Grizzlies had a better overall record than the Clippers... and seemingly had better attendances too

[@c_Durka]

Lol seemingly

[@nmarkert01]

I’m with you. Grizz definitely aren’t the worst when considering all the factors

[@Albert8044]

The Grizz final season played in Vancouver is when attendance declined. It just proves Vancouver is a Hockey hotbed market and not Basketball.

[@Mr4one6]

They didn't have an owner (in Vancouver) who was willing to continue

[@DropKick-yq6ub]

Yeh it was ownership and management killed the team

[@thebrunssss]

That rule they made was clearly backstage politics from existing teams who didn’t want to wait for the Canadians to get a shot. Vancouver should still have a team had it not been for made up rules that would never happen today

[@mr.salamanca1724]

Good thing the Raptors won an NBA championship than most of those teams. What a slap on their faces

[@phillip_reynolds]

For some reason, I didn’t remember the Vancouver Grizzlies were so bad. The best thing about the team was really the jerseys. Great video!

[@floppaturnt]

the nba was like “yeah we’ll give you a franchise but we cant let you get the best player in the next 5 drafts”

[@Youdoxxikill]

Not the NBA. The other owners. It's a club. You don't get just join the club and start running it

[@HarrySKeith]

I'm from Van, so disappointed the Grizzlies left, then I had to go to Seattle to see the NBA, then they frickin' moved!

[@Prattius16]

Well atleast theres still Portland left

[@HarrySKeith]

@@Prattius16 True

[@BrandonElps]

Toronto

[@HarrySKeith]

Yup@@BrandonElps

[@allengreene9954]

@@BrandonElps. Yeah but Toronto from Vancouver is like going from LA to NYC…….

[@markguilaran]

Vancouver was screwed over by both the league front office and the league suggested GM Stu Jackson. In an interview with former commissioner David Stern, he was asked what was one of his biggest regrets and he said it was the way the league treated the Vancouver franchise. The league gave us the most incompetent GM to run the team. The market was competing against the Canucks. Hard to pay big money in tickets when the team only wins less than 20 games a season. Heisley was never going to keep the team in Vancouver. He knew what he was getting himself into.

[@elwin38]

Exactly!! You are the most logical person when it comes to the Grizz. I live in Memphis and paid close attention to the relocation process back in 2001. I researched what went wrong in Vancouver and there were problems from day 1. For starters the NBA gave the original Vancouver expansion group(Arthur Griffiths) a team but the expansion fee was high(plus building GM place had cost overruns). Griffiths needed more investors and he ended up selling the team to John McCaw and his group. Stu Jackson ran that organization into the ground and players didnt want to play there(Steve Francis wasnt the only player who didnt want to be in Vancouver). That lockout seson was the death knell for this team in Van city. I remember when they won only 8 games. People in Memphis didnt pay much attention to what was going on in Vancouver until Heisley announced he wanted to move here. Once Heisley announced he was moving to Memphis, it was the talk of the town, it was on the local news everyday(from March until July, when the NBA approved the move). There was a huge rally in downtown Memphis when the NBA approved the relocation of the Grizzlies.

[@samslick9000]

NBA players will not play in Vancouver

[@SaintSoldier1984]

Vancouver can support a franchise today. The city has gotten way more richer now. After Seattle, its easily the biggest market the NBA can pick for team 32. The NBA is actually more popular than the NHL in the South Asian and East Asian communities and both of these communities have a ton of money. I and several of my friends would get season tickets as well (a few of my friends have Blazers packs and drive down to Portland often). For players, it's a no brainer city. Its way better than the likes of Kansas City or Kentucky etc; better night life, better standard of living and excellent restaurants. Is it as big as a market as Toronto? No. But it would be in the top mid range. Heck, it'd be bigger than Memphis, Charlotte, Cleveland...

[@TokyoBalletReprise]

The biggest market without a team rn is Montreal and after it’s Seattle.

[@liamsebestyen4983]

@@TokyoBalletReprise the quebecois don't like basketball. its defo seattle then Vancouver

[@user-pu3cf9pd2m]

@@TokyoBalletReprise No NBA player wants to live in a place where they speak French and where it's freezing.

[@Mr4one6]

You hit on a major point. 2021 Vancouver is caaaaked. Way more money that a lot of NBA markets these days.

[@MrJordwalk]

@@user-pu3cf9pd2m Way to talk like NBA players don't already. Portland, Utah, Denver, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana, Detroit, Cleveland, Philly, Washington, New York and Boston ALL HAVE COLD WINTERS, bruh.

[@AB.a1.6]

theScore keeps on killing it, every video just keeps getting better. And the podcasts have been amazing since day 1, easily the most underrated basketball channel

[@kendostick34]

Didn’t know about the pod - will check it out

[@AB.a1.6]

@@kendostick34 Pound The Rock NBA podcast, honestly the best in the game

[@timocruz510]

Casciaro and Wolfond do it right. You should check out their content on other sports. Justin Boone won me a fantasy football chip this year.

[@JoeCash89]

@@timocruz510 🙏

[@beastlyidiots9232]

Man oh man. Hearing this story in detail just stokes the fire of dismay at how the NBA treated Toronto and Vancouver. What a bunch of crap. Great video though. Well done. Thanks for making me cry.

[@abuhassan8849]

If Vancouver Grizzlies drafted Vince Carter, they would've never been relocated.

[@devanse5057]

Other people would have you believe if Grizzlies acquired Steve Nash, they would've never been relocated.

[@zaynrivers7433]

devans e I do, the hometown hero never would’ve left I think he would’ve wanted to do what VC did for Toronto basketbsll

[@hellothere-us7iw]

@sangit kafle nash draft stock and trade value before nba rule change kinda suck. Steve nash only became big due to changes to the rule which they didn't have crystal ball that gives them future nba rule change information.

[@canadadry4609]

Blah blah. He was an all nba player and top 5 pg before that..so...

[@hellothere-us7iw]

@@canadadry4609 good joke laughing my ass off. Thanks for the laughs.

[@sarperkizilkaya4531]

Here for the "Big Country"

[@GaberInc]

🐻: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpTNpJqobpeEedk.

[@xboxrules8472]

I remember when Don Taylor used to say that short for Big Country was Big Cu_ _

[@nolanrollins8510]

Shoutout Vancouverites! (there aren't even any grizzlies in memphis!)

[@Simpy1621]

There is no lakes in Los Angeles and they don't play jazz in Utah.

[@kylew8479]

@@Simpy1621 there’s a lake in LA called Silverlake. It’s actually just a bunch of hipsters drinking ipa coffee and gentrifying the neighborhood

[@chrisbeach423]

There are bears all over tennessee though.. i think the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies should change names

[@Joshua-fr1xp]

This argument is stupid. There are no Wizards in DC, no Lakes in Los Angeles, no Knicks in New York, no Raptors in Toronto, no Magic in Orlando, no Kings in Sacramento. Shut up with all that.

[@Simpy1621]

@@Joshua-fr1xp there is raptors in Toronto at Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Lol

[@kendostick34]

These videos get better and better - such a great channel: great content, great editing and no ads ✊🏻

[@btakahara11]

One thing that was not covered that attributed to the decline in ticket sales was that when Heisley took over he first began by cutting the marketing budget significantly. Which included tickets for underprivileged kids and other youth oriented programs. Basketball became a huge impact on my life , but I'm ashamed to admit I cheered for other teams when they were in town. I am now a die hard Vancouver fan and will support Memphis until we see basketball back in the North West. A Seattle / Vancouver cross boarder expansion rivalry would be the best thing to build hype around and not to mention the Naismith Cup/Holiday match up with the Raps

[@BrandonElps]

😂😂😂😂it's a wrap grizzlies not leaving my city

[@grub1175]

The Knicks "am I a joke to you"

[@Watermelon-wg9fn]

Hey at least the Knicks have a title 😂

[@guerillawhite3083]

@@Watermelon-wg9fn 2 of em

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

@@guerillawhite3083 and was kicking SERIOUS azz in the 90s tho

[@dacooooo]

Kings fan says Hi!

[@GRAV_Music]

I mean they might suck now but they used to be better than the Grizzlies

[@sng1867]

When I was a kid, I remembered it was front page when the Grizzlies won 2 in a row.

[@DGS2605]

Steve Francis: Tells the Grizzlies he won't play for them and not to draft him. Grizzlies: Draft the guy who said he wouldn't play for them. Steve Francis: Doesn't play for Vancouver. Grizzlies: *surprised Pikachu face*

[@jp29allday]

Smart move by Stevie Franchise who went on to become a solid NBA All Star and the team ended up moving anyway. His issue was not only did the team and organization as a whole suck, Vancouver was ridiculously far away. That was a horrible decision by the league to put a franchise in such a remote location.

[@elliottslinn8102]

Being from Vancouver... if only we had a competent GM and made smart draft choices... what coulda been.... we had an opportunity to draft so many amazing players but we decided to draft someone who didn't want to be here. Even still, the fanbase was loyal and attendance wasn't that bad. The team had heart and grit and we did have a few good players. I hope Vancouver can get another team or Seattle, AND if Vancouver does get a team again -- I hope we get our name/logo back, are there even Grizzlies in Memphis? lol

[@zb5913]

Average fan base was roughly 15,667 during the Grizzlies duration in Vancouver. Memphis did not exceed that until 2012.

[@mikecoxbig7046]

main reason why they left was their inability to sell out all the corporate arena boxes at Rogers Arena. My buddy knows Arthur Griffiths the teams first original owner and that is what he tells him.

[@Joshua-fr1xp]

Not getting that back and stop the Grizzlies in Memphis crap. Are there any Magic in Orlando or Wizards in Washington DC? No, it's just a name.

[@roclaren]

This video hurts my soul - fellow Vancouverite

[@ballinlikemarkcuban379]

2K needs to add expansion teams in MyCareer

[@randomnerd2332]

That would actually be a pretty cool storyline for mycareer, 2 expansion teams are added (lets say one bigger market team like seattle & a small market team in say Kentucky) & in college you work your way into becoming the first player one of the two franchises selects in the draft with the choices you make effecting which franchise drafts you go to as in your career you work your way into becoming their franchise player. It also be to cool to see if it could effect free agency as say the small market team is more hesitant to bring in big name superstars during the offseason but is willing to sign you to the supernax in order to have you stay while the big market team aleays tries to bring in big name superstars but doesn't believe in the supermax contract.

[@BiggerThanYOU4Sure]

Great video but some imporant things are missed. Most notably the lease agreement that was made outside of Vancouver for a new place for the team to play. See below. In the 1998-99 season, the team averaged an attendance of 17,183 spectators a game (14th in the league). The attendance only took a major nose dive really in their final season in Vancouver and even then, they were not even the worst in the league (27th). The profit issues were more or less because of the weak Canadian Dollar and not the team's failure to generate revenue from the team. The Grizz failed for a few key reasons. 1) Poor Management. Stu Jackson was made GM and had no business in that role. He coached the Knicks at one point but had no other good credits to his name. He routinely drafted poorly including Bryant Reeves and Antonio Daniels being two bad selections. He was an awful choice to lead an expansion team. 2) The NBA put far too many restrictions on the Canadian Expansion teams. Owners were very upset when Orlando had reached prominence so quickly after landing the top selection in the draft twice. This led to the most ridiculous rule of all when the NBA said either team could not win the lottery or even a top-three pick in their early years of expansion. This handcuffed the team severely. Add in the fact that both the Raptors and Grizz were not allowed to even spend the full amount of the cap and you have another major factor that prevented the Grizz from being a competitive team early on. 3) Steve Francis whining about being drafted by the Grizz. Francis was clearly the best player on the board when the Grizz were up and took him. Francis pouted and whined while in Vancouver which ultimately led to the team trading him for a package that was nowhere near his true value. This was only two months after he was drafted by the team. How can you even have a chance to win when players are boycotting your city? 4) The NBA gave up on the team far too early. The Grizzlies did not have a failing program but rather incompetent and deceitful/ownership. The league basically approved the team being sold at a bargain to Chicago-based businessman Michael Heisley for $160-million. Hesiley also opted to renew a lease for a stadium outside of the city limits which in turn was helping to drive attendance lower and lower. It is widely believed and accepted by many that the Richmond lease was signed on purpose by Hesiley so that he would lose money faster and thus forced the NBA to allow him to move the team to an U.S. city in a faster timeline.

[@JKillackey62183]

Awesome explanation! Very insightful 😎 I miss the Vancouver Grizzlies a lot.

[@elliemyers6435]

This is an awesome explanation. Stu Jackson was a horrible GM, but the Reeves pick wasn't that bad. He was very productive until his body broke down. Plus, if you look at that draft, the best guy that he passed on was Stoudamire...Michael Finley was also in that draft and turned out to be a great player, but no GM would've taken him at 6. The fact that the team was so bad, yet fans still came out to support them at decent clip really does say a lot of the loyalty of the fanbase. People look at Abdur-Rahim, and see who he was drafted ahead of, but he was also very productive for the Grizzlies, but he just had very little talent around him. But no GM would've taken nash at three. And Jerry West was probably the only GM who would've taken Kobe at 3. Now, Antonio Daniels was an awful pick...I'm also just now realizing that you guys took Daniels, Bibby and Steve Francis - three guys that all play basically the same position in three drafts in a row. Man, that's rough. The Steve Francis thing definitely hurt...So many really good players on the board, and but Francis was clearly the best guy...funny thing is, his whole thing was he wanted to be near his family, and I get it, Vancouver is far. But it's not like Houston was THAT much closer to DC, where he's from. I didn't realize that rule about how neither Canadian expansion team could win the lottery...that's insane, and as you astutely pointed out, it's 100% because of the Magic winning twice in a row, getting Shaq and penny and building a contender so quickly thereafter. NBA owners definitely hated that, and made that insane rule which made it really hard for the Grizz and Raptors to build winners.

[@AustinBeal1]

It’s funny how Lionel Hollins, after a brief 60 game stint in Vancouver, ended up getting another chance in Memphis and coaching the Grizzlies to their first ever Conference Finals

[@Xen.sational]

For a sec I thought someone edited Jokic in the thumbnail

[@brokenregistry]

You're not the only one HAHAHHA

[@CHodgy]

Ya Im like the Joker's really let himself go

[@soulsilver2012]

Mum can we pick Nikola jokic? No son we have Nikola Jokic at home...

[@the503creepout7]

Every time i visit Memphis, i always see grizzly bears out in the woods gobbling up salmon. Perfect mascot for a team from Tennessee.

[@aaronhutchinson885]

As a Raptors fan that 96 draft still hurts..ridiculous rule when you see a few seasons prior the magic had back to back no1 picks

[@jonbridge6442]

Yeah man

[@mcj88]

As a post-script for how badly Stu Jackson bungled the Grizzlies, I remember reading once that sometime in 2006 he was on a Vancouver talk radio show where the interviewer asked him if he had any regrets about his time managing the team. His answer? *That he didn't try **_harder_** to sign Steve Francis.* Even in hindsight, the guy learned nothing.

[@andredornelles8014]

I honestly don't know how this channel has only 100k subs, it should be at least 1.5mil

[@RV-ce4ox]

An understated part of the failure was the refusal of players to actually want to report to Vancouver. Reasons varied from “it’s rainy and dark there all the time” to “I can’t get my Apple Jacks there.” It was a disgrace and made me hate players I loved previously. Looking at YOU Otis Thorpe!!

[@kellykilsby4828]

Part of the problem not said is that the players did not want to be in Vancouver. And did not care about playing there. I had a relative who was a sports reporter who had covered at times the Canucks. The NBA players were hostile to the reporters.

[@JUVI9596]

Went on a road trip to San Francisco from Winnipeg in September 1995. We went thru Vancouver en route. I bought a Grizzlies t shirt. I still have it.

[@anthonypaterson8741]

Best NBA content on KZbin.

[@mercuryabroad4259]

Imagine if the Vancouver Grizzlies drafted Kobe in 96... 😭

[@greenderp]

yeah, he would have demanded to be traded immediately

[@orxa88]

🤣

[@johnrambo4018]

As a Canadian kid growing up in the 90's, I was a huge Seattle Supersonics and Vancouver Grizzlies fan! Since I live in the middle of nowhere (nowhere near Vancouver), I still cheer for the Oklahoma City Thunder (used to be the Sonics) and the Memphis Grizzlies!

[@jaydurant3048]

The NBA needs to come back to Vancouver and Seattle!

[@pjlarson1716]

As a Sonics fan from Monroe, WA, I'm glad were getting the Sonics back. The 32nd team needs to go to Van City though.

[@angusmacleod1849]

I was a big Grizzlies fan as a kid. I watched every game on tv and went to a handful of games per year. When they left for Memphis I gave up on the NBA and haven’t watched since

[@red3here]

why not cheer for the raptors?

[@SaintSoldier1984]

Same, I gave up on the league until Steve Nash went to Phoenix. Nowadays I cheer for players and not teams.

[@angusmacleod1849]

@@red3here had the Grizzlies never existed maybe I would have, but I just wasn’t interested in basketball after that. To be honest I was rooting against the Raptors when they won, out of jealousy more than anything. It’s hard not to think about how had things gone differently that could have been the Grizzlies winning a championship

[@red3here]

@@angusmacleod1849 so you are jealous because Toronto has a team and Vancouver doesn’t? And didn’t want Toronto to win a championship because you wished Vancouver did? So you don’t hate Toronto and will never cheer for them because you will always be jealous of them?

[@red3here]

@@SaintSoldier1984 never to late to start cheering for a team again.

[@maples328]

Those draft rules were criminal. 😧 No way you could build a successful franchise anchored like that.

[@mrbee15]

This was eye opening. Did not know about this stupid rule about draft lottery. Weird way to support new franchises.

[@thepwrjunkie7378]

The Grizzlies had a guaranteed "Slam Dunk" pick with Steve Nash and probably could have gotten Michael Findley as well for Shareef Abdur Raheem. Stu Jackson. was a brutal GM, Big Country was a massive Bust. I went to a game and actually saw Bog Country get stuffed by Charles Barkley who was inches 30's by that time. Sad franchise too bad, the league really f*#ked us too

[@keepitreal1448]

Big Country was not a bust.

[@thepwrjunkie7378]

@@keepitreal1448 You're right, he just had a disappointingly short career but he wasn't a bust.

[@elliemyers6435]

Yeah, Bryant Reeves wasn't a bust at all. He had some very good years, but his body failed him. In terms of Nash, hindsight is 20/20. No one would've taken him at 3, and if by some shock the Grizz had done that, he may have failed there given there was very little talent on the roster at that time. Plus, it took Nash like 4 years to really blossom, which is time the Grizzlies really didn't have.

[@SP.007]

I wonder if they considered only expanding to Toronto for 1995. It would have balanced out the conferences at 14/14. Then expand to Vancouver and another city couple of years later.

[@anestojaga6442]

idc if they had gone 0-82 every year, those uniforms are absolutely worth it

[@vintagepimpage6049]

The lottery rules were ridiculous...how different things would have turned out

[@DwayneIsKing]

Lol once I saw Morant rocking the Vancouver jersey, I had to stop what I was doing and buy one right then. As a basketball fan, jerseys like that are too clean to pass up on 😆

[@elwin38]

That jersey was almost impossible to find in his rookie season. Even online...people started buying fake Ja jerseys.

[@GreaterAfghanistanMovement]

Vancouver got robbed. Period. Drafting Steve Franchise-Killer didn't help either.

[@elwin38]

I live in Memphis and paid close attention to the relocation process back in 2001. I researched what went wrong in Vancouver and there were problems from day 1. For starters the NBA gave the original Vancouver expansion group(Arthur Griffiths) a team but the expansion fee was high(plus building GM place had cost overruns). Griffiths needed more investors and he ended up selling the team to John McCaw and his group. Stu Jackson ran that organization into the ground and players didnt want to play there(Steve Francis wasnt the only player who didnt want to be in Vancouver). That lockout was the death knell for this team in Van city. I remember when they won only 8 games. People in Memphis didnt pay much attention to what was going on in Vancouver until Heisley announced he wanted to move here. Once Heisley announced he was moving to Memphis, it was the talk of the town, it was on the local news everyday(from March until July, when the NBA approved the move). There was a huge rally in downtown Memphis when the NBA approved the relocation of the Grizzlies.

[@TheSerbianG]

We definitely need an NBA team back in Vancouver. Every time NBA visits for preseason the games are sold out! Seattle first, Vancouver and Vegas should be the expansion teams.

[@GLrebirth]

The Vancouver Grizzlies were definitely bad...however they got hosed by David Stern and Michael Heisley.

[@DorianGroup82]

What a phenomenal video.

[@Ivander85]

Steve Nash grew up in BC but he was actually born in South Africa.

[@81Justathought]

this really hurts, we got shafted, I loved going to games, so much incompitance at every level of the Grizz. we need to get a team back either relocation or expantion and lets hope we can have better ownership and management ( if and when Vancouver gets a team again )

[@KatalistProductionsKozzySasha]

Had a 30 game pass one year when I was going to college there, was a blast getting to go to games as a long time basketball fan. The issues where Stu Jackson, Taking Francis when he didn't want to play here and of course Big Country. Hope they get a chance at another team down the road.

[@darrenkrivit6854]

Went to that opening night Blazers/Grizzlies game. Rose Garden was rockin'

[@gameimprovements4347]

That's a super cool memory!

[@filippo_dp1616]

Thank you for explaining

[@businessinsider8734]

These club has been set up to failed from day 1 and those stupid lottery draft rule had ruined it. NBA is getting more and more corrupt and Stern is an overrated commissioner

[@abbafan27]

“The Grizzlies don't beat anyone here in Vancouver.” - Kurt Angle “They are a rotten basketball team.” - Jerry Lawler

[@alijamehadzic843]

I REMEMBER THAT 😂😂😂😂

[@kw9377]

Head office was a joke to begin with.. and many players don’t wanna live in Canada ..

[@seanstours3913]

Bring the nba back to vancouver!

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

Seattle and New Jersey to

[@seanstours3913]

@@samuraibeastwarrior2886 seattle and vancouver for sure!

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

@@seanstours3913 New Jersey ?

[@seanstours3913]

@@samuraibeastwarrior2886 New Jersey needs a new arena, that was one of the main reasons why they relocated to Brooklyn Where as Seattle And Vancouver have arenas right downtown (Seattle’s being brand new) Vancouver having Rogers Arena able to hold 19,000+, basically plug in and play for Vancouver

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

@@seanstours3913 they can still get one

[@Stanlayy-em4fk]

Imagine if Steve Francis had took it upon himself to leave a legend legacy in Vancouver.

[@failedfilmmaker]

I feel like there must have been other back door agreements with the expansion draft rules. No team would agree to such ludicrous rules unless it was a MUST to even be awarded a team. I feel the NBA never really wanted Canadian teams so they made huge road blocks to make it tough to get in. If they did pass the road blocks then so be it, but they ain't going to be able to take top talent to Canada.

[@gameimprovements4347]

That's the way I see it. The raptors should have a higher salary cap than any other team to attract bigger Stars. We're already at a disadvantage as most American stars don't wanna play here. This and or first dibs on any European talent that comes to the league! One thing is for sure- the NBA is horrific at assisting international expansion teams in succeeding!

[@failedfilmmaker]

​@@gameimprovements4347 100%. After the first season both the Raps and Grizzlies are a legit real NBA team with a record to base the lottery off of, why in the world would they still not be allowed a top pick? The little extra kicker is that they couldnt even get the top 5? Is that correct? At least in the NHL they sometimes dont allow the new teams the first year get 1st overall, but not even top 5! That's crazy

[@robertevbayekha6639]

@@failedfilmmaker wow

[@timhanna4700]

THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE UNARGUABLY THE WORST FRANCHISE IN TEAM SPORTS.

[@milespaget3229]

Man I would go to so many games if Vancouver still had a team. I feel the basketball culture has grown so much here in the past 10 years.

[@redgrizzly1492]

Those teal jerseys are 🔥 tho

[@neltymind]

I was a kid during the 90s and a huuuge MJ fan. But I remeber seeing those Grizzlies jerseys for the first time and thinking they're the coolest thing ever.

[@xSG199x]

I have lived here in Vancouver all my life and I’ll say this: I’m against an NBA team. It has a high chance of failure and if Canucks Sports and Entertainment/Aquilini owns it, it will be dysfunctional just like the Vancouver Canucks/Grizzlies.

[@Floki5000X]

Love this type of stuff!

[@ChampagneGars]

If Steve Francis ended up staying in Vancouver, they might have never relocated

[@ChristineCAlb1]

Lol at Mike Bibby with hair.

[@joshhouston3443]

Odom was hoping the Grizzlies would draft him (Ron Artest also did draft workout too) Imagine: Big Country Reef Bibby Odom

[@alexcaruso6085]

Charlotte Bobcats: Am I a joke to you?

[@uzitay815]

I love TheScore great vids keep it up

[@bufnyfan1]

Grizzlies Stu Jackson was the worst GM in NBA history--he didn't have a clue what he was doing and because of his gross incompetence, the Grizzlies franchise was doomed from day 1. Then he drafts good o'le boy "Big Country" Reeves who was a complete bust--essentially signed a $66 million contract and accomplished nothing-ended up injuring his back and going back to his native Oklahoma--in addition why didn't the Grizzlies organization not cultivate the large Chinese/South East Asian population of lower BC?? they love basketball but there was no attempt to get them involved in the season ticket sales etc etc

[@laulakh]

I clicked on this to reminisce but I'm I'm just depressed... I remember going to that last game though. It was sad to say the least

[@chihuadog]

I disagree with the notion that there is no single person at fault in all of this. The Grizzlies would still have a team if Heisley never bought the team. The team had its issues and didn’t make the best of their draft picks but there was a budding young core in Reef, Bibby, Dickerson. They were 2-3 years away from building a solid team not it’s not surprising that it happened after they moved to Memphis. The attendance was solid up until the owners were looking to sell the team. Stern also didn’t care to keep the team in Vancouver and just allowed Heisley to do whatever he wanted. In retrospect it’s funny that an NBA franchise could have been had for 160million just 20 years ago. That’s the same as a couple houses in Shaughnessy!

[@mikecoxbig7046]

My buddy here in east Vancouver knows Arthur Griffiths personally. Arthur tells him the main reason the team left Vancouver was their inability to sell out their arena's corporate boxes at Rogers Arena. It is a big thing for the NBA to have the arena's corporate suites sold out for live events whether it is hockey, basketball, or a concert. Huge money maker.

[@MrAce-lm8es]

The 1995 - 96 Vancouver Grizzlies Road and Home Jersey is certainly another Classic NBA Throwback I would own.

[@club6525]

Vancouver got done dirty. Would’ve been a great NBA team had a competent franchise and a better rules. They should get a new team.

[@gurskyman]

Some of the flyest jerseys ever to bless NBA courts, and I personally was a big fan of Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Being from the Philly area and growing up a diehard Sixers fan I can’t say much else!

[@YTC1234]

Nash wasn’t good until years later. Kobe didn’t want to play for anyone other than LA. Ray Allen should have went to the Grizzlies.

[@faunaflage]

They kept burning through coaches, but did they change their scouting staff? They made consistently suspect decisions.

[@Lovejazz01]

We in Memphis are grateful for the move from Vancouver …..

[@Amm17ar]

Canada deserves a second franchise, bigger and better fan bases in Vancouver than places like Memphis, Pheonix and Oklahoma....

[@noliesbeingtold]

Memphis loves the Grizzlies and the Grizzlies players seem to love the city and its people as well. The Grizzlies are heavily involved in the communities of Memphis. The Grizzlies have a large and growing fanbase. They finally have great management and fans are excited about the future. Vancouver is not a better fanbase then the teams you just listed.

[@tg2890]

The Suns have been in Phoenix since the 60s, and Phoenix is bigger than Vancouver, and one of the largest cities in North America -- and it's still growing.

[@Amm17ar]

@@tg2890 Probably should check your numbers before posting. Vancouver's urban population is about 2.4 million people. A huge amount of Asian influx and presence. Not to mention having a Western Canadian city kinda gives them all of Western Canada as possible supporters. All versus Pheonix which is near more desirable west coast cities isn't exactly a FA destination (Id argue Vancouver has way more pull than a Pheonix does) and Canada been pumping out top-tier NBA talent in recent years and it's obviously been a successful growth opportunity. I'm not saying Pheonix doesn't deserve a franchise, I'm just trying to say if a city like Pheonix has one and can maintain the requirements to sustain a franchise (though they've got one of the stingiest owners) then Vancouver is more than capable of getting one too. I'd personally love a scenario where New Orleans and Memphis get moved to the Eastern Conference and we add two of either Seattle/Las Vagas/Vancouver as expansion options.

[@Amm17ar]

@@noliesbeingtold Vancouver loved the Grizzlies too? I'm sure if they stayed in Vancouver the franchise would have been just as involved in their community as well. Vancouver is a growing fan base but it's also much more established than Memphis based on population numbers and market size. And that management would be the same management they'd have if they stayed in Vancouver lol. None of your points apply if the franchise was never moved....

[@tg2890]

​@@Amm17ar Phoenix current 2021 population: 4.6 million Vancouver current 2021 population: 2.6 million Phoenix - 15th largest city in NA Vancouver - 31st largest city in NA Western Canada needs more prominence, but not by comparing itself to Phoenix which at this point is a bigger and more desirable destination.

[@gluserty]

Towards the end there I thought the Grizzlies formed a solid starting five, but regardless the franchise never learned how to win. I remember watching a Grizzlies game where Rick Barry was the analyst, and in winning that game they would notch their 100th win. Barry expressed his disgust with that, and I agree: 101 wins in 6 (5 82-game)seasons? Wow.

[@DwayneIsKing]

The NBA really set these teams up to fail. The fact that in 3 straight drafts you're not eligible for the first overall pick is RIDICULOUS. Imagine how much better of a hand they could've been dealt. Probably would still be alive rn

[@jokerofmorocco]

Dang at first it I was like, it can't be worse than the Bobcats, but turns out it was

[@zb5913]

Vancouver was robbed just as bad as Seattle IMO. The city atleast deserves to witness a winning season and get into the playoffs. Any sports franchise deserve that. Vancouver & Seattle need to come in once the NBA expands. Move Memphis & New Orleans to the East.

[@alecbalfour2264]

The worst is the knicks. Vancouver was just not ready for the NBA. The knicks have the richest franchise and still find ways to suck

[@balaclavaman8660]

I’m from the uk and always supported the Celtic’s due to Irish connections but (British Columbia) so Vancouver was my team but man 🤦🏼‍♂️ we where awful! I’d love to bring them back (I often do on 2k) jerseys be hanging too 🇬🇧👍🙏

[@muzzer27_]

I was an NBA fan in the 90s, I loved and lived every second of the season. But somehow I missed the fact that while being the worst team after 95-96 season, the Grizzlies didn't get the first lottery pick next season. I hasn't occured to me at all up until I saw this video. The expansion teams prevented from no. 1 pick for the first three seasons? What?!

[@mohsinkamal2468]

For a second I thought that was jokic in the thumbnail

[@jimhenry3383]

😆

[@foxmccloud7055]

I don't know how they managed to mess this up, but they did.

[@l-wolverine2211]

Well, Vancouver will Never get another NBA Franchise, Ever. So as far as Expansion, the only 2 Qualified Cities would be among these 5 1. Seattle 2. Las Vegas 3. Kansas City 4. Tampa 5. Baltimore

[@dreamcage1801]

Pittsburgh, San Diego and Montreal are a possibility

[@panthers-rl8fu]

Steve francis ruined any chance of Vancouver being a team that could attract top talent via draft or fa.

[@KyleC11]

Memphis doesnt even have Grizzly bears smh. Give us our team back lol

[@axton5762]

Does Toronto have raptors!! Who cares

[@Joshua-fr1xp]

Shut up man, there are Raptors in Toronto and no Wizards in DC. Memphis is keeping the Grizzlies, sorry, get another team.

[@GreaterAfghanistanMovement]

@@Joshua-fr1xp Its not even your team to begin with lmao.

[@Joshua-fr1xp]

@@GreaterAfghanistanMovement It is now and has been since 2001, get over it.

[@GreaterAfghanistanMovement]

@@Joshua-fr1xp Memphis is BORING, can't wait till the Grizz relocate again lol.

[@NCHobbies]

Man, what a remarkable story it would have been if the Grizzlies selected Steve Nash.

[@littlebatch6389]

The NBA failed the grizzlies,not Vancouver.