The MEMPHIS Grizzlies Should Stop Wearing Vancouver Throwbacks (Opinion, Obviously)

Rumors are circulating that in the coming years, we may see a return of the Vancouver Grizzlies throwbacks. Many people are excited, but I’m not. Just like last time, I won’t watch the games when they are wearing Vancouver jerseys.

I am a big fan of the Memphis Grizzlies. I frequently wear two-toned blue (for the Tennessee Titans as well) and collect Grizzlies memorabilia. With that said, one thing I can’t stand, is when the MEMPHIS Grizzlies wear jerseys that say Vancouver Grizzlies. Yes, I hated when they put that on their court too.

Let me just say, that I am well aware that this is in no way, shape, or form, important. It’s laundry, I know. I just wanted to make that clear. I can still have an opinion on something trivial.

Back to the Memphis Grizzlies. I think they have an amazing uniform history. I love the two-tone blue color scheme, and I love their current look as well as their Grit & Grind look. I usually love their special uniforms too, like the Big Memphis uniform, their other city editions and I think their pyramid days throwbacks are fine.

I have nothing against the Vancouver Grizzlies uniforms, though I personally don’t think they are these amazing uniforms that everyone else thinks they are, but I hate when the MEMPHIS Grizzlies wear them.

I’m not a Grizzlies fan because of their rich history or many championships, because they didn’t come to Memphis until 2001, and they’ve never made it to the Finals. I am a fan of the Memphis Grizzlies for the same reason I am a fan of the Tennessee Titans, because I was born and raised in Tennessee. I love Tennessee, I’m proud to say I’m from the Volunteer State. I also love basketball and football. So naturally, I root for the Tennessee NBA and NFL teams.

I have cheered on the Memphis Grizzlies through some rough years. I remember when FedExForum always looked empty. I also remember when the team would be up by double digits at the end of the 3rd quarter and I’d joke that they’ll blow it in the 4th, and I would usually be right. Why did I stick with them and not root for the Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, or a team like that? Simple, I root for the MEMPHIS NBA team, win or lose.

That takes us back to the Vancouver uniforms. In the 2019-2020 season, the Grizzlies threw it back to their days up north. Players and fans were asking for them, and mock-ups of current players in Vancouver throwbacks were seen all over the internet. When they officially announced that they were wearing Vancouver Grizzlies throwbacks, many, or dare I say, most fans were excited. The jerseys were flying off the shelves, the teal could be seen all around town, JJJ’s profile picture was of him in the jersey… yada, yada, yada, it was popular.

I wasn’t excited. First, I don’t care for the color scheme, there, I said it. The teal, red, brown, and white just doesn’t look good to me. Second, there were (heck, still are) rumors that the Grizzlies were going to relocate to Seattle. This was because of their attendance issues, as well as the fact that in the upcoming years, the lease with FedExForum would be breakable. Seems like the perfect time to wear some PNW uniforms! Third, I hate seeing the team rep any city other than Memphis.

Sports teams are a source of pride and identity for cities. Think of New York and the Yankees, Dallas and the Cowboys, or Chicago and the Bulls. Obviously, the Grizzlies are nowhere near as iconic, that’s not my point. In fact, we’ll go with less iconic teams. Charlotte and the Hornets, Toronto and the Raptors, Atlanta and the Falcons… you get the point. These teams represent their cities proudly, and the cities represent their teams proudly. No matter how hard things get for the Grizzlies, I proudly rep them because they are Memphis, they are Tennessee. It sure doesn’t feel that way when their uniforms and court say Vancouver.

I hated when they wore them in the NBA Walt Disney World Bubble (that was the time to be representing Memphis). I hated when Ja appeared on SLAM Magazine in his Vancouver jersey. I hated when he received his awards in his Vancouver jersey. I hate seeing all of the figurines, bobble heads, and t-shirts of him in a Vancouver jersey. I hate seeing Grizzlies media members to this day regularly rocking Vancouver Grizzlies gear. I hate that the Ja Scratch shoes are Vancouver colors, not two-toned blue. I hate seeing fans talking about how they #RepTheM and #BigMemphis, while they are decked out in Vancouver gear. How do they not see the irony in that? I think you get my point, I hate seeing the Memphis Grizzlies identity being so wrapped up in the Vancouver era. They were there for 6 years, they’ve been here for 22 years.

It also doesn’t put Vancouver Grizzlies fans (you know, the ones actually from Vancouver) on our side. They don’t like Memphis. They want the Grizzlies back. Kathleen Jayme, devout Vancouver Grizzlies fan, says she wants an NBA team, and she specifically wants the Grizzlies back. She’s made documentaries about the Vancouver Grizzlies. Basketball fans in Vancouver have gathered in Vancouver Grizzlies gear and chanted, “We want the Grizzlies!” They’re not saying they want to play against them, they literally want the Grizzlies. Some do offer a silver lining, saying Memphis can keep the team, but relinquishes the Grizzlies name so a new Vancouver team can use it (remember 6 years vs 22 years). So yeah, forgive me for not wanting my team to rep a city that hates us.

Also, I hate when teams throwback to past cities, because it’s just a jerk move. Let’s say the Grizzlies do relocate to Seattle. They rebrand to the SuperSonics. What if in 20 years, they decided to throw it back and wear Beale Street Blue Memphis Grizzlies jerseys? People in Seattle are rocking Ja Morant Grizzlies jerseys because “they’re fire and that’s part of their team’s history!” Yeah, I would hate that.

I have nothing against the Grizzlies acknowledging their history and maybe having a Vancouver display case in FedExForum. Other than that, I want the Memphis Grizzlies to be the Memphis Grizzlies.

Grizzlies, when you throw first pitches, wear blue, not teal. The team store should be full of gear that says Memphis, not Vancouver. Fans in the stands should be repping the M. Grizzlies players, media, and fans should find it weird to wear the name of another city. Be the Memphis Grizzlies, rep the two-toned blue, be proud to be in Memphis, Tennessee. At the very least, can the Vancouver uniforms say Memphis instead? It’s y’all’s uniforms, just change them.

Of course, this is all my opinion and I know that they will wear the Vancouver uniforms again. The court will say Vancouver again. I also know the Vancouver gear will sell like hotcakes. It’s still nice to rant.

Go MEMPHIS Grizzlies!

And for goodness sakes, Grizzlies, extend your lease at FedExForum, the relocation rumors are getting annoying.