Adam Silver has silenced the noise and made it clear that the league has no intention of relocating the Memphis Grizzlies.
Silver doubled down on Memphis as a long-term NBA city while also floating a creative way to expand the team’s reach across Tennessee, speaking on the “Pardon My Take” podcast.
“[Memphis] has been a great market historically for the NBA, and there is amazing history in that city and amazing culture,” Silver said. “There’s no reason why the Memphis Grizzlies can’t be successful.”
The commissioner also addressed speculation surrounding ownership intentions, particularly with recent outside comments adding fuel to the conversation.
Silver made it clear there’s no internal push to move the franchise.
He noted that Grizzlies owner Robert Pera “has no interest in moving the team out of Memphis, he’s made that clear.”
Instead of relocation, Silver suggested a middle-ground approach that could benefit both Memphis and nearby Nashville, one of the fastest-growing sports markets in the United States.
“Nashville is a city on the rise; there’s incredible things happening there,” Silver said. “If it were up to me, I would love for them to play a few games a year in Nashville and sort of be Tennessee’s team, to the extent that they can.”
While the Grizzlies have already built some presence in Nashville through training camps in recent years, they have yet to host an official regular-season game there. The idea mirrors what the San Antonio Spurs have done by playing select home games in Austin.
Silver also pushed back on long-standing perceptions about Memphis as a destination for players, particularly concerns that have surfaced over the years.
“Players I talk to all the time like playing in Memphis,” Silver said. “I have never heard that issue of players not wanting to be in Memphis.”
Looking ahead, the franchise’s future in Memphis appears stable, with discussions ongoing about extending their lease at FedExForum beyond 2029. A major arena renovation plan, reportedly valued at around $550 million, is also in development with support from multiple funding sources.
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