My Tribute to the Grizzlies! Does the worst drafting franchise ever have fans?

So I saw this funny State Farm commercial where a Grizzly is going through this guys kitchen and the voice over says “You’re a Grizzlies fan, not a fan of Grizzlies.” I thought it was amusing then thought who is actually a Grizzlies fan. I have a client with 4 season tickets to the Houston Rockets and he gave me to two tickets this season. Guess what team was playing the Rockets in those two games. Yep, the Grizzlies.

The team that for some reason is in Memphis and was started in Vancouver. How bad were they in Vancouver? The team finished last in the division in five of its seasons, and never managed to hit a .300 win percentage. In total it won 101 games, lost 359, and never reached the playoffs.

This is a team that loves to take chances whether by signing over the hill players like Iverson, Antoine Walker, and Arenas long after their prime years or by making some of the worst picks ever in draft history.

They selected Big Country with their first pick in the 1995 draft
Antonio Daniels with the 4th pick in the 97 draft
Mike Bibby with the 2nd pick in the 98 draft
Steve Francis with the 2nd pick in 99 after Franchise told them not to pick him.
Stromile Swift with the 2nd pick in 2000
Drew Gooden at 4 in 2002
Maybe the worst #2 of Grizzlies #2 picks, Hasheem Thabeet in 2009. Keep in mind the Grizzlies gave Tyreke Evans a try out. Evans would be selected at 4 and win Rookie of the Year.
Arguably worse than any of those draft picks is having the vision to pick Kevin Love with the #5 pick in 2008 but trading him and Mike Miller for OJ Mayo, Antoine Walker and that foreign guy that’s married to the hottest Victoria Secret angel of all-time.

I’m sure I’ve made my point about how bad the franchise is but there has to be some reasons to cheer for these guys other than you live in Memphis and like basketball. I dug up a few highlights for the people that are Grizzlies fans and not fans of grizzlies.

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Big Country was a big redneck and would turn out to be a big waste of a pick but when healthy he showed a lot of potential that he could get er done under the rim.

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For a couple of years, Shareef Abdur Rahim was known as one of the most underrated players in the league and he was the first Griz that looked like he would have a great career. It ended at good but far from great.

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Stromile Swift was a bust but he was also one of the best dunkers in the league so I can see why some people liked him.

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Before Pau Gasol was loved or hated in LA he was the franchise’s best player ever

The #1 reason to like the franchise is Rudy Gay! Some people laughed at his last name and some idiots in Houston actually thought they were getting the better end of the trade that got them Shane Battier but Gay is one of the most explosive, exciting and talented young guys in the league

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Check out more of those funny State Farm commercial below