Beale Street Bears
Fansided

Memphis Grizzlies’ Fans Most Passionate in the NBA?

By Christian Dudley

facebooktwitterreddit

May 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies fans hold up a Mike Conley (not pictured) sign during the second half against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies’ fanatics are some of the most passionate fans you will find all across the National Basketball Association.

The Memphis Grizzlies are a small market team. They get overlooked on a regular basis by the mega national and global media outlets. Though they have been one of the top-tier teams over the past five or so seasons, they still receive very few national television appearances on big stations such as ESPN and TNT.

Allow me to put the spotlight on the Grizzlies of Memphis, Tennessee.

The current Grizz squad plays a brand of basketball that NBA clubs of the ’80s and ’90s would be very proud. The Memphis Grizzlies love to get physical and they will claw for boards and loose rocks. They pride themselves on outworking and outhustling all other opponents. Their mantra is “Grit-‘N’-Grind” and they certainly do that each and every game. This forces opponents to fear the Grizz.

What makes the Memphis Grizzlies a complete package? Their fans. Grizz Nation.

I am an Indiana resident and I used to be an Indiana Pacers season ticket holder. This was during the lowly days of the Pacers’ franchise following the “Malice at the Palace” but prior to the Paul George era. I saw true fans coming to those games and/or families that wanted to have a fun and exciting night of entertainment together. There were no existing bandwagon fans at this point in time for the Pacers. They were missing out on the NBA Playoffs, too.

Apr 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) during the game at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Indiana Pacers 95-83 Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Then it all changed. The Pacers had some luck in the NBA Draft and they also snagged some solid free-agents. They developed their team and made back-to-back Conference Finals trips. Over the past decade, the Grizzlies and Pacers have went from a mission of rebuilding to forming championship-caliber rosters. The two organizations have been eerily similar to each other as they have attempted to piece together a winning formula. It has all began for defense for both clubs.

The fans came, whether matching the bandwagon criteria or not. Indy has even created two groups of rambunctious fanatics–Area 55, in regard to current Pacer Roy Hibbert, and the G-2 Zone, in support of George Hill and Paul George. As a result, along with their increased success level, the Pacers’ fans were filling their arena–Banker’s Life Fieldhouse–but their fans were still not as wild about their team, as a whole, as you will find within today’s Memphis Grizzlies.

I travel to Memphis once or twice per year mostly to take in a few Grizz games. I have seen nearly as many NBA games–both live and televised–since 2004 as humanly possible. The NBA truly is my hobby. I love the association. Let me tell you this: the most passionate fans in the entire NBA, in my opinion, belong to the Memphis Grizzlies. GRIZZ NATION. Ever since the days of Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Jason Williams, and Stromile Swift, I have been a Grizzlies’ fan.

Their playoff rally towels are referred to as “growl towels.” Their star First-Team defenseman, Tony Allen, is nicknamed “The Grindfather.” FedEx Forum, which houses the Grizzlies, has been coined as “The Grindhouse.” list goes on. There are so many things, such as terminology and nicknames, that make the franchise very likeable.

Grizz fans have experienced the ups, such as seeing their favorite team being an eight-seed and defeating the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. They have also witnessed the downs when the Grizzlies below a 26 lead in the second half of a playoff game against the Los Angeles Clippers as well as seeing the league suspend Memphis’ MVP–Zach Randolph–for a Game 7 in last year’s postseason versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both times (Clippers and Thunder playoff games), the Memphis Grizzlies became defeated.

Apr 19, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Fans during the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Portland Trail Blazers 100 -86.Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Regardless of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, the Memphis Grizzlies’ fan base is here to stay. The team represents the city and vice-versa. You cannot have the Grizzlies without Memphis. You cannot think of Memphis without mentioning the Grizzlies. It is a unique relationship–one not quite like any other in the NBA, not even a bond that Indiana and the Pacers can resemble.

I attended Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors. This was the first Grizz postseason contest I have witnessed in person. The entire game–whether it was when Memphis started slowly or at the moment in which M-Town went on a huge scoring run to put a scare into the Warriors or by the end of the game where it became clear the season was coming to an end–the fans were loud and proud of the product on the floor.

All fans will criticize players of their beloved team from time to time, and from what I have seen at Pacers’ games in the past, those fans will be hateful and personal about what they do not like about the team. If it is a particular player, they will verbally destroy that said player. I have readily noticed a difference from those fanatics compared to those supporters of the Memphis Grizzlies. What would that be?

Grizz fans, from my perspective, offer constructive criticism more than anything if they are looking for more from a particular player’s performance. During Game 6, it seemed as if the entire arena wanted Jeff Green to have a breakout game. Though he was being more aggressive than in previous games, the job was still not getting done. The Grizzlies were behind. However, the fans were loud and proud throughout–a harmonious bunch.

Mar 16, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen (9) reacts during the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Denver Nuggets 92-81.Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Growl towels flapping all around, chants breaking out, clapping and cheering being heard from all angles–Grizz Nation comes second to none in the “fandemonium” department. ALL fans chimed in during each chant. It was literally one big community coming together in support of the Memphis Grizzlies. It would give anyone shivers down their spine to hear such a sound ringing about the Grindhouse.

From what I have seen, although I cannot speak on behalf of all NBA fan bases, I do believe the Memphis Grizzlies own the most passionate fan base in the association and are planted in one of the friendliest NBA cities.

Memphis and Grizz Nation alike, continue to do what you do. You are a critical component in making the Grizzlies great.

Go Grizz!

More from Beale Street Bears

Home/Grizzlies News