2000–01 Vancouver Grizzlies season explained

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Grizzlies' sixth season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] It would also be their final year in Vancouver. For the third straight year, the Grizzlies had the second pick in the 2000 NBA draft, which they used to select Stromile Swift out of Louisiana State University.^{[2] [3] [4]} During the off-season, the team acquired Isaac Austin from the Washington Wizards,^{[5] [6]} re-acquired Tony Massenburg after one season with the Houston Rockets,^[7] and signed free agent Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.^[8] Entering their sixth season, the rumors of a move became a reality. Club owner Michael Heisley decided that it was time for the Grizzlies to move on. After five losing seasons had given the team low morale and decreasing support in the community, the team found itself in debt.^[9] Despite winning four of their first five games under new head coach Sidney Lowe,^[10] the Grizzlies lost seven straight afterwards, losing 21 of their next 25 games.^[11]

On February 19, the Grizzlies were in last place in the Midwest Division with a record of 17–36, and Heisley traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to discuss a deal between the city and the team. Other city candidates for the team's relocation included Louisville, Kentucky, Anaheim, California and New Orleans, Louisiana.^[12] The NBA would grant the team permission to move to Memphis, as the NBA determined that its time in Vancouver was a failure.^{[13] [14] [15]} At midseason, the team traded Othella Harrington to the New York Knicks in exchange for Erick Strickland.^{[16] [17]} Despite a five-game winning streak in mid February, the Grizzlies would lose seven straight again, then post a nine-game losing streak in March, finishing in last place again with a record of 23 wins and 59 losses, which was their best record in Vancouver.^[18] The Grizzlies lost their final two games against the Toronto Raptors, finishing with a 4–7 record in regular season games against their Canadian rival. Shareef Abdur-Rahim led the team with 20.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while Michael Dickerson finished second on the team in scoring averaging 16.3 points per game, and Mike Bibby provided with 15.9 points and 8.4 assists per game.^[19]

On April 14, the Grizzlies played their final home game at General Motors Place in Vancouver. The Grizzlies lost to the Houston Rockets, 100–95 as Steve Francis, who had been drafted by the Grizzlies but refused to play for the team, was booed throughout the game.^{[20] [21]} In their final game on April 18 as the "Vancouver Grizzlies", the club played the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. The Grizzlies beat the Warriors 95–81 to avoid another 60-loss season.^{[22] [23]}

The franchise moved to Memphis, and began play in the 2001–02 NBA season as the Memphis Grizzlies. Also following the season, Abdur-Rahim was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for the 3rd pick in the draft (Pau Gasol),^{[24] [25] [26]} while Bibby was traded to the Sacramento Kings,^{[27] [28] [29]} Strickland signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics,^[30] and Abdul-Rauf and Doug West both retired.

Draft picks

See main article: 2000 NBA draft.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

2000-01 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
	—	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2
	3–1	—	0–4	2–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1
	4–0	4–0	—	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	1–2	2–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2
	2–2	1–2	1–3	—	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	2–1
	2–2	1–2	2–2	3–1	—	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	3–0	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2
	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0
	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	—	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–3	4–0	1–1
	4–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	4–0	1–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–2
	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	—	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2
	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	3–1	—	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	—	2–0	1–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0
	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–4	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	—	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0
	3–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–0	1–1	—	1–2	1–1	3–1	2–3	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–0
	3–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–1	—	0–2	4–0	1–2	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
	3–1	0–4	0–4	2–2	0–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	—	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
	2–2	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–1	2–0	2–2	—	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–0
	3–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
	3–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	3–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	4–0
	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	—	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0
	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	—	2–2	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0
	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0
	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0
	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–0
	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–3	0–2	—	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	—	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

	Date	Opponent	Score	Record	Attendance
1	October 31		94–88	1–0	15,779
2	November 2		99–91	2–0	15,546
3	November 4		89–98	2–1	18,183
4	November 6		97–87	3–1	11,639
5	November 8		101–74	4–1	11,500
6	November 9		78–85	4–2	10,906
7	November 11		78–91	4–3	18,556
8	November 16		72–76	4–4	12,210
9	November 18		88–91	4–5	13,301
10	November 20		92–95	4–6	11,809
11	November 22		100–101	4–7	16,783
12	November 24		96–118	4–8	14,709
13	November 26		98–87	5–8	11,551
14	November 27		72–97	5–9	19,763
15	November 29		109–106 (2OT)	6–9	12,314
16	December 1		76–86 (OT)	6–10	11,758
17	December 3		79–97	6–11	11,655
18	December 5		91–83	7–11	12,578
19	December 7		87–98	7–12	17,958
20	December 9		79–83	7–13	15,671
21	December 11		75–82	7–14	12,145
22	December 13		93–94	7–15	15,102
23	December 15		76–98	7–16	18,211
24	December 17		91–101	7–17	13,729
25	December 20		118–104	8–17	11,510
26	December 22		93–95	8–18	14,656
27	December 23		90–92	8–19	12,001
28	December 26		95–97	8–20	16,110
29	December 29		81–104	8–21	20,309
30	December 30		101–102	8–22	14,485
31	January 3		99–89	9–22	11,873
32	January 5		76–108	9–23	18,359
33	January 7		120–117	10–23	11,771
34	January 9		105–112	10–24	12,417
35	January 12		102–115	10–25	13,196
36	January 13		119–107	11–25	12,540
37	January 15		112–113 (OT)	11–26	18,318
38	January 17		97–121	11–27	12,117
39	January 19		86–97	11–28	14,281
40	January 21		94–96	11–29	13,108
41	January 23		77–110	11–30	14,764
42	January 25		83–120	11–31	12,690
43	January 26		89–106	11–32	12,316
44	January 29		97–86	12–32	15,475
45	January 31		92–101	12–33	16,502
46	February 2		95–105	12–34	17,317
47	February 3		91–84	13–34	16,845
48	February 5		82–95	13–35	15,082
49	February 7		82–92	13–36	13,240
50	February 13		99–98	14–36	11,735
51	February 15		99–89	15–36	10,612
52	February 16		92–79	16–36	13,173
53	February 18		110–102	17–36	18,693
54	February 20		116–104	18–36	12,240
55	February 21		91–107	18–37	17,944
56	February 23		81–93	18–38	17,682
57	February 24		75–90	18–39	21,496
58	February 27		112–116	18–40	12,977
59	February 28		83–101	18–41	19,452
60	March 3		88–98	18–42	19,193
61	March 5		77–91	18–43	10,798
62	March 6		105–97	19–43	20,580
63	March 9		95–85	20–43	15,512
64	March 11		84–101	20–44	19,193
65	March 13		99–109	20–45	9,664
66	March 14		95–100	20–46	16,018
67	March 16		99–103	20–47	15,278
68	March 17		81–95	20–48	16,500
69	March 20		90–104	20–49	14,531
70	March 22		95-109	20–50	12,168
71	March 23		75–95	20–51	18,345
72	March 25		92–102	20–52	19,800
73	March 29		89–68	21–52	15,949
74	April 1		73–92	21–53	13,093
75	April 4		86–78	22–53	11,312
76	April 6		90–118	22–54	14,863
77	April 7		97-98	22–55	14,934
78	April 10		91–104	22–56	10,430
79	April 12		87–100	22–57	12,796
80	April 14		95–110	22–58	18,571
81	April 16		100–110	22–59	17,317
82	April 18		95–81	23–59	14,437

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
	PG	82	82	3,190	304	685	107	12	1,301	38.9	3.7	8.4	1.3	.1	15.9
	SF	81	81	3,241	735	250	90	77	1,663	40.0	9.1	3.1	1.1	1.0	20.5
	PF	80	6	1,312	284	28	62	82	391	16.4	3.6	.4	.8	1.0	4.9
	C	75	48	1,832	452	80	43	54	622	24.4	6.0	1.1	.6	.7	8.3
	PG	71	10	1,415	124	224	36	1	461	19.9	1.7	3.2	.5	.0	6.5
	SG	70	69	2,618	229	233	62	27	1,142	37.4	3.3	3.3	.9	.4	16.3
	PF	66	27	1,507	274	83	72	15	396	22.8	4.2	1.3	1.1	.2	6.0
	PF	52	20	823	210	9	10	28	233	15.8	4.0	.2	.2	.5	4.5
	C	52	16	845	222	58	20	23	226	16.3	4.3	1.1	.4	.4	4.3
	SG	46	5	634	82	52	29	8	160	13.8	1.8	1.1	.6	.2	3.5
^†	C	44	40	1,267	289	36	19	26	480	28.8	6.6	.8	.4	.6	10.9
	PG	41	0	486	25	76	9	1	266	11.9	.6	1.9	.2	.0	6.5
^†	PG	22	0	409	76	66	22	1	140	18.6	3.5	3.0	1.0	.0	6.4
	SG	15	6	171	15	14	3	4	28	11.4	1.0	.9	.2	.3	1.9
	PG	6	0	30	4	5	2	0	13	5.0	.7	.8	.3	.0	2.2

References

• Grizzlies on Database Basketball
• Grizzlies on Basketball Reference

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/VAN/2001.html 2000-01 Vancouver Grizzlies
2. News: Wise . Mike . Clippers Go to High School and Select Miles . The New York Times . June 29, 2000 . July 24, 2021.
3. News: Smith . Sam . Draft Proving Ill Wind . Chicago Tribune . December 16, 2000 . July 15, 2022.
4. News: 2000 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
5. News: Wyche . Steve . In Trade, Wizards Get 4 for the Price of 1 . The Washington Post . August 23, 2000 . June 28, 2022.
6. News: Associated Press . Rededicated, Eh? Ike Sent to Vancouver . Deseret News . August 23, 2000 . November 27, 2022.
7. News: Associated Press . Sign-and-Trade Deals Send Hill, McGrady to Magic . Deseret News . August 4, 2000 . October 25, 2022.
8. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; West Side Story, the Sequel . The New York Times . October 30, 2000 . July 16, 2022.
9. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; It Looks as If Grizzlies Are Heading for Memphis . The New York Times . March 25, 2001 . July 24, 2021.
10. News: Associated Press . Grizzlies Keep Revamping by Hiring Lowe as Coach . Los Angeles Times . June 2, 2000 . November 28, 2022.
11. Web site: 2000–01 Vancouver Grizzlies Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. September 17, 2021.
12. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; It Looks as If Grizzlies Are Heading for Memphis . The New York Times . March 25, 2001 . July 24, 2021.
13. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Going to Graceland: Grizzlies Set Sights on Memphis . The New York Times . March 27, 2001 . July 24, 2021.
14. News: Associated Press . PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Grizzlies' Move Receives Approval . The New York Times . June 29, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
15. News: Associated Press . NBA Approves Grizzlies' Move . Los Angeles Times . July 4, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
16. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Acquire Harrington . The New York Times . January 31, 2001 . October 16, 2021.
17. News: Grizzlies Trade for Strickland . CBC . January 30, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
18. Web site: 2000–01 Vancouver Grizzlies Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. September 17, 2021.
19. Web site: 2000–01 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. September 20, 2021.
20. News: Houston Rockets/Vancouver Grizzlies NBA Recap on ESPN . ESPN . April 14, 2001 . June 23, 2022.
21. Web site: Say It Ain't So: Vancouver Grizzlies . 2001 . CNNSI.com . May 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604083517/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/07/04/sayitaintso_grizzlies/. 4 June 2011 . live.
22. News: Morris . Jim . Grizzlies Bow Out in Winning Fashion . The Globe and Mail . April 19, 2001 . June 23, 2022.
23. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/vancouver/vangriz.html Vancouver Grizzlies (1995–2001)
24. News: Wise . Mike . Pro Basketball; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen . The New York Times . June 28, 2001 . July 15, 2022.
25. News: Hawks to Get Abdur-Rahim in Deal . ESPN . June 26, 2001 . January 11, 2022.
26. News: Spanish Player Picked by Atlanta . United Press International . June 27, 2001 . November 27, 2022.
27. News: Around the NBA . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
28. News: Williams' Rocky Relationship with Kings Comes to an End . ESPN . June 29, 2001 . October 16, 2021.
29. News: Suns Agree to Trade Kidd to Nets for Marbury . Tampa Bay Times . June 29, 2001 . November 30, 2022.
30. News: Celtics Sign Strickland . United Press International . November 1, 2001 . October 25, 2022.