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On this day in 2001, the NBA Board of Governors approved the move of the Grizzlies franchise from Vancouver to Memphis beginning with the 2001-02 season.
The move by the Grizzlies was the first franchise relocation in the NBA at the time since the Kings moved from Kansas City to Sacramento for the 1985-86 season. The team was forced to move in large part due to financial reasons and low attendance.
Since then, the New Orleans Hornets temporarily moved to Oklahoma City for two seasons due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Seattle SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, which was approved on July 2, 2008.
The Grizzlies have achieved sustained moderate success since moving to Memphis. The team has made the playoffs 10 times since the 2001-02 season, including seven straight appearances from 2010-2017 behind the “Grit and Grind” era.
The team this season paid homage to their time in Vancouver with the unveiling of two throwback jerseys to commemorate the franchise’s 25th anniversary. The team also played on a newly-designed alternate court to go along with the throwback jerseys.
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