Growl Towel Explained
A Growl Towel is the colloquial name used to refer to the rally towels given to fans prior to National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff games involving the Memphis Grizzlies.
Origin
The original Growl Towels were given out from 2004 to 2006, when the Grizzlies made three straight playoffs . However, the Grizzlies were swept by their opponents in all three appearances, so only six different towels were made. The Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs for the next four seasons, so the Growl Towel was shelved.
The Growl Towel is actually traced back to the Lafayette Leopards (Lafayette College, Easton PA) during the 1980s. Photos in their archives will show this.https://ldr.lafayette.edu/concern/images/wh246s748
2004 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Game 3 | Believe It | White |
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 4 | Believe It | White | |
2005 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Game 3 | Play On | White |
| Phoenix Suns | Game 4 | Play On | White | |
2006 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Game 3 | Play On Play On Play On Play OnPlay On Play On | White |
| Dallas Mavericks | Game 4 | Play On Play On Play On Play OnPlay On Play On | White | |
2011 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 3 | Believe Memphis | White |
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 4 | Believe Memphis | White |
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 6 | Believe Memphis | White | |
Western Conference semifinals
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Game 3 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 4 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 6 | Believe Memphis | Gold | |
2012 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 1 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 2 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 5 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 7 | Believe Memphis | Gold | |
2013 Playoffs
Starting with the 2013 Playoffs, the growl towels started to feature different captions in each game, in addition to the traditional "Believe Memphis" towel. The Nashville Company called ''Something Inked'', which specialises in custom promotional products, produces a new growl towel for each playoff game.
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 3 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 4 | Alternating “Grit” and “Grind” | Gold |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Game 6 | We Don't Bluff | Gold | |
Western Conference Semifinals
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 3 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 4 | Alternating “All Heart” and “Grit and Grind” | Gold | |
Western Conference Finals
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 3 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 4 | We Don't Bluff | Gold | |
2014 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 3 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 4 | We Don't Bluff | Gold |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Game 6 | All Heart. Grit. Grind | Gold | |
2015 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Portland Trail Blazers | Game 1 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Game 2 | Alternating “Grit” and “Grind” | Gold |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Game 5 | We Don't Bluff | Gold | |
Western Conference Semifinals
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Golden State Warriors | Game 3 | Memphis vs. Errrbody | Gold |
| Golden State Warriors | Game 4 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| Golden State Warriors | Game 6 | All Heart | Gold | |
[1] 2016 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 3 | Believe Memphis | Gold |
| San Antonio Spurs | Game 4 | All Heart | Gold | |
2021 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Utah Jazz | Game 3 | Ya Hear Me! | Gold |
| Utah Jazz | Game 4 | "I'm on my grizzly" | Gold | |
2022 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Game 1 | MemThis | Gold |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Game 2 | Ain't No Runnin' in the M | Gold |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Game 5 | Memphis Memphis Memphis Memphis Memphis Memphis | Gold | |
Western Conference Semifinals
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Golden State Warriors | Game 1 | We Here | Gold |
| Golden State Warriors | Game 2 | Big Memphis | Gold |
| Golden State Warriors | Game 5 | Ain't Duckin' No Smoke | Gold | |
2023 Playoffs
Round 1
| Opponent | Game | Caption on Towel | Color |
|---|
| Game 1 | With Us | Gold |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Game 2 | For The M | Gold |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Game 5 | Big Memphis | Gold | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Historical List of Growl Towels & Grizzlies' Record With Each . 3sob.com . 2015-05-11 . 2015-05-16.
