Although the Memphis Grizzlies are cubs in the NBA, they have started to growl. Although they have only been in the NBA since 2001, the Grizzlies have already advanced to the playoffs for three seasons. The Grizzlies moved to Memphis prior to the 2001-2002 season, after playing in Vancouver for six years. Interestingly, the Grizzlies weren’t the first professional basketball team Memphis has hosted. The Memphis Pros / Tams / Sounds were an ABA team that played in the city from 1970 to 1975.

Where did the name “Grizzlies” originate? In fact, the first name of the franchise was “Mounties”. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police objected to the name, as Mounties was a nickname for their police force. Thus, the franchise selected the alternate team, the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies lost their first NBA game to the Detroit Pistons, 90-80.

Eventually, they would end their season with a disappointing 23-59 record.

Two seasons later, the Grizzlies made some bold trades and finished the season with an excellent 50-32 record. Their number of wins was nearly double the previous highest total as a franchise. Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown became the NBA Coach of the Year. However, the Grizzlies received a tough tie for the playoffs. Defending NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs swept the Grizzlies in the latter’s first playoff series.

The following year, the Grizzlies began playing at the new FedEx Forum, hoping to build on the success of the previous season. The Grizzlies went 45-37 and captured the final playoff position in their conference. Unfortunately, they would face another power squad. This time, it was the Phoenix Suns running and shooting. Also, the opposing team once again swept the Grizzlies in the playoffs.

In the 2005-2006 season, the Grizzlies were third in their division (49-33), behind those two teams. In the playoffs, the Grizzlies again attracted a tough competitor and one they were fairly familiar with: the Dallas Mavericks. For the third year in a row, the opposing team swept the Grizzlies.

Although the Grizzlies are a young team, some people in their franchise have received prestigious awards:

Hubie Brown: Coach of the Year: (204)

Brown won the NBA Coach of the Year award with the Atlanta Hawks (1977-1978), before winning it with the Grizzlies. Additionally, in 1975, Brown led the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels to a championship.

Pau Gasol: rookie of the year (2002)

Born in Spain, Gasol first played in the Spanish ACB League, before playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2006, Gasol played in the NBA All-Star Game, as the Grizzlies’ first player and the game’s first Spaniard. Gasol is also a member of the Spanish basketball team.

Mike Miller: Sixth Man (2006)

Before playing in the NBA, Miller participated in the NCAA basketball championship in 2000. Miller holds the Memphis Grizzlies team record for scoring the most points in a single game. He scored 45 points against the Golden State Warriors on February 21, 2007.

The Memphis Grizzlies are new, but promising. Use Memphis Grizzlies merchandise to cheer on the big bears!

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