Head coach Sidney Lowe Arena General Motors Place Playoff finish DNQ | Owner(s) Arthur Griffiths Record 23–59 (.280) | |
Place Division: 7th (Midwest)
Conference: 13th (Western) | ||
The 2000–01 NBA season was the Grizzlies' sixth season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It would also be their final year in Vancouver. 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 themselves in debt. 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 their time in Vancouver was a failure. The Grizzlies would go on to finish in last place again with a record of 23–59. In their final 2 games against the Toronto Raptors the Grizzlies would be swept as they had a 4–7 record in regular season games against their Canadian rival.
The Grizzlies had the second pick in the 2000 NBA draft, which they used to select Stromile Swift out of LSU. Transactions included acquiring Isaac Austin from the Washington Wizards while signing free agents Damon Jones, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf during the offseason. The team also re-signed Tony Massenburg after one season with the Houston Rockets. At midseason, Othella Harrington was traded to the New York Knicks for Erick Strickland.
On April 14, the Grizzlies played their final game in Vancouver. The Grizzlies would be beaten by 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 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, the club played the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. The Grizzlies would 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, Mike Bibby was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Strickland signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, Jones signed with the Detroit Pistons and Abdul-Rauf retired.