Las rivalries They are the essence of the NBA. Two teams facing each other for historical, geographical reasons or solely related to the game and, thanks to this, each match becomes a spectacle on and off the field. From the Celtics-Nationals to the Bulls-Pistons, without forgetting the Boston-Lakers, Knicks-Heat and many others that gave extra emotion throughout history. One of the latest to emerge has been the one starring Golden State Warriors y Memphis Grizzlies.
On the one hand, the most successful franchise of the last decade; on the other, the great aspirant to rise up, driven by his youth and rebellion.
With this in mind, it’s time to review the origen from warriors-Grizzlies rivalry, as well as the timeline, key moments and more issues that have marked this particular derby.
subscribe to NBA League Pass to see all the games: United States | Rest of the world
The origin of the Warriors-Grizzlies rivalry
The origin of the rivalry between Golden State Warriors y Memphis GrizzliesCuriously, it has to do with a player who, at that time, was not part of the Californian team. In July 2019, those from Bahía moved to Andre Iguodala to Memphis with the aim of freeing up salaries, since the veteran was going to earn 17.1 million and Golden State planned to transition to a new project. So far everything within the usual in the NBA.
However, Iguodala, accustomed to winning and being part of teams with high aspirations, was not up for the task of being part of a rebuilding project. Those Grizzlies had just won 33 games and ended up in Draft lottery positions, that is, they were not an attractive destination for Iggy. The player wanted to leave Memphis for a title contender, which is why he never transferred to Tennessee, staying away from the team while his future was resolved.
That situation did not sit well in the Grizzlies locker room and Dillon Brooks was quick to speak his mind:
The first time I saw him [a Iguodala] He was on TV talking about us. We don’t even care. Andre Iguodala is a great player. I feel like he’s doing the right thing for his career, but we don’t really care. He is not a distraction at all. I laugh at that kind of stuff. A guy who’s on our team and doesn’t want to be, I can’t wait until we find a way to trade him so we can play him and show him what Memphis is all about.
After Iggy left for Miami Brooks, Ja Morant and Iguodala himself got into a fight. beef by social networks:
Soooo things are getting spicy in Memphis: pic.twitter.com/Tc7X7bpjOi
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 4, 2020
In free agency in 2021, Andre Iguodala returned to Golden State, and along the way, the Warriors built their own rivalry with the Grizzlies.
The battle for the 2021 Play-In
Despite the return of Stephen Curry In the 2020-2021 season, the Warriors were not in a position to fight for the ring. At the same time, the Memphis Grizzlies had confirmed their status as contenders for the postseason thanks to a great Ja Morant and a good defensive system. During the Regular Phase, the two teams did not have enough to finish among the top six places in the West, having to play the pass in a knockout match within the Play-In.
It is important to note that in their three previous clashes sparks have already flown, since two of them happened in a very short period of two days. Meanwhile, the last game of the Regular Phase, it happened 5 days before the Play-In and with the position in the table at stake, a duel that the Warriors won.
That clash for eighth place in the West in the Play-In was of great intensity, being resolved in overtime and with exchanges of words between several players:
The timeline of the Warriors-Grizzlies rivalry
July 7, 2019 — Andre Iguodala is traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
September 23, 2023 — Andre Iguodala agrees with the Memphis Grizzlies not to play until traded.
February 4, 2020 — Dillon Brooks says, “I can’t wait until we find a way to trade him so we can play him and show him what Memphis is all about.”
February 6, 2020 — Andre Iguodala is traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Miami Heat.
May 21, 2021 — The Memphis Grizzlies eliminate the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In.
January 12, 2022 — Andre Iguodala is booed on his return to Memphis en el FedEx Forum.
28 de marzo de 2022 — Years Jackson Jr tuitea “Strength in numbers (Strength is in numbers)”, the old motto of the champion Warriors, just after beating Golden State in the Regular Season.
May 1, 2022 — Game 1 of the Playoff series between the Warriors and Grizzlies.
May 3, 2022 — Gary Payton II fractures his left elbow after a flagrant II committed by Dillon Brooks. The Canadian is suspended and the Warriors player misses the next 10 Playoff games. Steve Kerr said that Brooks “cracked the code”.
December 25, 2022 — Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks have an unlikely mental battle on Christmas Day.
March 3, 2023 — In an article for ESPN, Dillon Brooks says: “I don’t like Draymond at all. I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them.”. Green responded in his podcast saying: “Rivalries are created when you win, I’ve won. Clearly, we’ve won four times and your organization has zero championships, so I can’t call that a rivalry.”
March 9, 2023 — Draymond Green gets close again with Dillon Brooks.
March 18, 2023 — The Grizzlies beat the Warriors in Memphis and Klay Thompson reminds Dillon Brooks how many rings he has:
“It’s not one, it’s not two, it’s not three, it’s four”
???? Klay Thompson reminded Dillon Brooks how many times he has been champion of the #NBA pic.twitter.com/GIPCbXk0sa
— ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? España ???????? (@sportingnewses) March 19, 2023
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
