How the Memphis Grizzlies history timeline works

This deck covers Grizzlies franchise moments, each paired with a short description, sorted by the year they happened. One card is placed at the start with its year in view. Put each new card in the gap you think fits. If it does, the year is revealed; if not, the card takes its true place and costs you one of three lives.

The Grizzlies started life in Canada, and many of the early-franchise cards are high draft picks from struggling teams, which are tough to order. After the move, the deck turns to the gritty playoff teams that made the franchise's name, followed by a younger, faster core. Playoff cards from the gritty years come in quick succession and read alike, so the opponent in each description is your best guide.

Want a longer game? On the deck tree you can tick this deck alongside any other one measured in release years and dates, and they shuffle into a single timeline together.

What's in the deck

Here are 22 of the 22 cards you might be dealt. Their values stay hidden until you place them.

Franchise debuts as the Vancouver Grizzlies The NBA expands into Canada and drafts Bryant Reeves
Drafted Shareef Abdur-Rahim third overall Took the Cal forward high in the lottery
Drafted Antonio Daniels fourth overall Selected the Bowling Green guard in the lottery
Drafted Mike Bibby second overall Took the Arizona point guard high in the draft
Drafted Steve Francis, who refused to play The guard rejects Vancouver and is traded to Houston
Team relocates to Memphis and lands Pau Gasol The Grizzlies move to Tennessee with a new cornerstone
Pau Gasol wins Rookie of the Year as West arrives Jerry West takes over the front office in the first Memphis season
First playoff trip as FedExForum opens Hubie Brown's 50-win team christens the new downtown arena
Returned to the playoffs The team earns a second straight postseason berth
Drafted Mike Conley Selected the Ohio State point guard in the lottery
Traded Pau Gasol as Marc Gasol arrives A blockbuster reshapes the frontcourt around Pau's brother
Traded for Zach Randolph Acquired the power forward who anchored 'Grit and Grind'
Upset the top-seeded Spurs The 8-seed wins the franchise's first playoff series
Reached the Western Conference Finals Marc Gasol wins Defensive Player of the Year on a deep run
Pushed the Thunder to seven games A grinding first-round series goes the distance
Won 55 games and reached the conference semifinals The Grit and Grind core peaks in the standings
Made the playoffs for a seventh straight season The Grit and Grind streak reaches its final year
Drafted Jaren Jackson Jr. Selected the Michigan State big man in the lottery
Drafted Ja Morant as Mike Conley is traded A new era begins as the longtime point guard departs
Ja Morant named Rookie of the Year The dynamic guard wins the award
Zach Randolph's number retired Memphis honors the Grit and Grind icon
Ja Morant named Most Improved on a 56-win team The guard leads a franchise-record season and earns the honor