Most rivalries are decades old. They begin when the team is created or moved into a new location, and the natural tension caused by a new team causes rifts among the players. The older teams want to prove they are the best while the younger teams want to get a strong footing in the league.
The Warriors vs Grizzlies rivalry doesn’t follow this dynamic.
Each Team's Beginning
The Warriors were originally from Pennsylvania – founded in 1946, moving to San Francisco in 1961, and changed their name to the Golden State Warriors in 1971.
The Grizzlies were founded in 1995, making them one of the youngest teams in the NBA. They were originally based in Vancouver but moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 2002.
Because these teams came from dramatically different locations, there has never been a chance for rivalry based on location.
Because the Warriors have been around for a long time, they have settled among the best teams in the league. Only now and then do the Warriors fall from their podium.
The Grizzlies, however, had a long haul as the underdogs and only recently started doing well. The change happened during what is now known as their “Grit and Grind” era.
Before 2010, you would barely notice the Grizzlies on the NBA money lines. As they entered into the 10s, their strategy changed. The team developed a disruptive defensive team which put a lot of pressure on the ball. It was a team based on steals and inside-out offensive moves.
From this change, the Grizzlies started earning franchise firsts, left, right, and center. The most notable was the first-ever win in the playoff. They were an 8th seed and they beat the 1st seed Spurs.
So far in the Grizzlies story, they haven’t had an issue with the Warriors. So what changed?
A Trade Gone Wrong
Everything was good until July 2019. At this time the Warriors needed to remove a player to make way for D’Angelo Russell. The trade was unusual, as it was all triggered by Kevin Durant.
Durrant signed a deal with the Brooklyn Nets which angered the Warriors. They didn’t want to trade their top player for nothing, so instead, they made a deal. The Nets weren’t allowed to snipe their first-round pick and they wanted D’Angelo Russell.
Once the deal was made, the Warriors were issued a cap – they needed to trade another player or face a fine. This is where Memphis gets involved. They traded Andre Iguodala to the Grizzlies and wiped their hands of this headache of a trade.
From the Grizzlies’ point of view, they gained a new player for next to nothing, or so they thought. Iguodala never turned up to train and he openly spoke about not wanting to join the team.
Iguodala became a waste of resources. Just a month later, Memphis sent Andre to Miami Heat, but the damage was done. The Golden State Warriors sent them a lazy player who was bad-mouthing them on TV.
The Fated 8th Seed
Not long after that bad trade, the Warriors and Grizzlies were battling for the 8th seed. The Warriors led by 6 points at halftime, and by the 3rd quarter, the lead jumped to 17 points.
In the end, the Warriors won, but there were fouls so dramatic players were benched for the final 10 minutes.
They played again 5 days later for a rematch. This time, it went into overtime. The Grizzlies won, took the 8th seed, and ended in the playoffs for the first time in 3 years.
The Aftermath
Things seemed to calm down after that, but in 2012, Iguodala returned to the Warriors and everything started up again. Surprisingly their games were tight, the Warriors should have been winning but the Grizzlies had a power of righteousness on their side.
In their first match against each other that season, Brooks broke Gary Payton’s left elbow. Brooks from the Grizzlies was benched for the foul, and the Golden State was shocked by the “dirty play”, saying “He broke the code”.
Game 5 started with the Warriors in the lead, but it ended with the Grizzlies thrashing the Golden State on a 134-95 win.
The Warriors won in the end, but it was a dramatic game.
Twitter Talks
Since then the rivalry has been mostly online. The Warriors mock the Grizzlies by using their memes and mantras in jest, while the Grizzlies comment on the Warriors’ lack of respect.
From the Warriors’ point of view, there is no rivalry – it’s too young. But a statement like that is what fuels the NBA rumors. Yes, the rivalry is young, but it’s heated.
Brooks and Draymond are constantly staring each other down on the court, and belittling each other on the internet.
If there is no rivalry between the teams, then it’s based on these two players who won’t let the past go.
Final Thoughts
The rivalry between the Warriors and the Grizzlies is young. It started with a bad trade and continued through broken bones and fouls on the court.
However, we don’t think the rivalry will end soon. Instead, it will morph into player rivalries based solely on Brooks and Draymond – the current spokespeople for this feud.