Town of Memphis is understood for just a few issues: barbecue, rock ‘n’ roll and the home of the Grizzlies of Memphis. After the franchise moved from Vancouver in 2001, the Grizzlies made the playoffs 14 instances with an look of the Western Convention last on this combination.
Though the town is adopted by the gamers of the group and the inhabitants, Memphis will not be a metropolis which usually attracts nice criticisms. Earlier this offseason, the ESPN star Stephen A. Smith denounced Memphis, saying that the NBA gamers didn’t see him as a protected surroundings.
“Are you going to inform individuals why no person desires to be in me? Or would you like me to do it?”
“Cats like Jimmy Butler and others shouldn’t have essentially the most positive surroundings. I converse to the native authorities of Memphis.” – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/qd9ujv5zv4– Horrible Andrfection (@Awfulannouning) June 17, 2025
After just a few spherical journeys after Stephen’s feedback, it appeared that destructive feedback on Memphis have been put in mattress till just lately.
Lately, on his new podcast, the Boston Celtic star, Derrick White, shared his reflections in several cities within the NBA, together with Memphis.
“Indiana has a resort, I do not prefer it,” he mentioned, “and we spend lots of time in Indiana.”
However as a lot as he doesn’t respect Indiana, he ranks all the time increased on his checklist than a selected metropolis of the Western Convention. He didn’t hesitate when he was requested to call that one.
“Memphis,” mentioned White about his least favourite NBA metropolis. “It’s in all probability the worst resort within the NBA.”
“It’s a troublesome resort to do,” he added. “Particularly when (you look) the 4 Seasons, then you definitely go to the westin … It isn’t the identical factor. It’s my least favourite resort.”
Derrick White says Memphis is his least favourite metropolis to play in 😅
(🎥 @Kicks )) pic.twitter.com/kj0cwb1nqb
– Nbacentral (@theduckcentral) September 3, 2025
After expressing his preliminary dissatisfaction with Memphis, White supplied a reward.
“The meals is nice,” he mentioned.
Behind Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. subsequent season, Memphis hopes to boast greater than his tasty delicacies. However ESPN specialists will not be additionally offered.
Within the final ESPN prediction piece, the #Spurs Full 44-38 – Ter at equal to the eighth to the west with the Dallas Mavericks simply in entrance of the Memphis grizzly greeks.
In entrance of the Spurs, Mavericks are the Golden State Warriors, finishing the deliberate sport of the Western Convention. #Porvida
– Matt Guzman (@mattgzman) August 28, 2025
“Spurs and Grizzlies appear to have tendency in several instructions,” the positioning just lately wrote, classifying the Spurs simply in entrance of the grizzlies in equality with the Dallas Mavericks. “San Antonio is getting into the third season of his affected person reconstruction round Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs gained 22 and 34 video games in his first two seasons. This season, our projections predict that they take an even bigger step within the Nineteen Forties.”
ESPN’s best reasoning for the low rating of grizzly greeks?
“The Grizzlies, then again, exchanged one among their important gamers this summer time (Desmond Bane) for a packet of restoration selection,” continued Espn, “a call that might imply that the franchise is making ready for a step again.”
With out Bane, Memphis should discover different rating threats to affiliate with Morant and Jackson. And though his overhaul of the capital’s capital settlement on the scourge can counsel a pivot for reconstruction, the younger workforce nonetheless has its goal on the NBA qualifiers.
Perhaps a poor resort within the go to workforce is a part of its technique. Grizzlies may have the possibility to reply to White and his feedback when the Celtics play at Fedex Discussion board on March 20, 2026.
