The Memp his Grizzlies are a National Basketball Association team based in Memphis , Tennessee . Previously known as the Vancouver Grizzlies, the team became an NBA franchise in 1995. The Grizzlies recorded their victory of the season on Saturday, November 17 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a much needed morale boaster after an 8-game losing streak. The Grizzlies closed the season by winning 4 of their final 8 games and matching their previous season record of 23-59. Grizzlies' Shane Battier became the first rookie to receive the NBA Assist Award for outstanding community service and Pau Gasol took home the prestigious Rookie of the year honor. The franchise's current head coach is Mike Fratello and the team is owned by Michael Heisley, and Jerry West serves as the team's President of Basketball Operations. Former Los Angeles Laker, Hall of Famer Jerry West was hired as general manager in 2002 after the team relocated to Memphis for the 2001-2002 season. During the 2002-03 season, Hubie Brown was hired to coach the Grizzlies.
Brown won the NBA Coach of the Year Award in the next season when the Grizzlies made the NBA playoffs for the first time in team history in the  spring of 2004 as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Hubie Brown stepped down as head coach during the 20044-05 season. West hired TNT analyst and former coach Mike Fratello to replace Brown. The franchise record improved and the team advanced to the postseason for the second consecutive season. Memphis Grizzlies had an active 2005 offseason in which they lost some players like Bonzi Wells, Jason Williams, Stromile Swift and James Posey, but the club acquired veteran players such as Damon Stoudamire, Bobby Jackson and Eddie Jones. As of 2005, the Grizzlies are the only team representing Memphis , Tennessee in the United States four major sports leagues. On the original franchise application to the NBA, the team was listed as the Vancouver Mounties. Canadian Government took exception to the name, claiming that the name was trademarked, prompting the change to the Memphis Grizzlies. Some of the current players on the Grizzlies roster are Eddie Jones, Damon Stoudamire, Jake Tsakalidis, Shane Battier, Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Lawrence Roberts, and Hakim Warrick.
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