2000–01 Vancouver Grizzlies season


The 2000–01 NBA season was the Grizzlies' sixth season in the National Basketball Association. 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 LSU. 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. The team won four of its first five games, but then lost seven straight afterwards.
On February 19, the Grizzlies were in last place in the Midwest Division with a record of 16–36, and Heisley traveled to Memphis to discuss a deal between the city and the team. The NBA would grant the team permission to move as the NBA determined that its time in Vancouver was a failure. At midseason, Othella Harrington was traded to the New York Knicks, as the Grizzlies would go on to finish in last place again with a record of 23–59 under new head coach Sidney Lowe. 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.
On April 14, the Grizzlies played their final game 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. 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.
The franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee and began play in the 2001–02 NBA season as the Memphis Grizzlies. Also following the season, Shareef Abdur-Rahim was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for the 3rd pick in the draft, and Mike Bibby was traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
12Stromile SwiftPF/CUnited StatesLSU Fr.

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Player statistics

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG

Award winners

Transactions