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1999–2000 Vancouver Grizzlies season

Lionel Hollins (interim) CTV Sportsnet Pacific

The 1999–2000 Vancouver Grizzlies season was the fifth season for the Vancouver Grizzlies in the National Basketball Association. After finishing the lockout season with the worst record, the Grizzlies received the second overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, and selected point guard Steve Francis from the University of Maryland. However, Francis refused to play for the Canadian team, and was later on traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for second-year guard Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Brent Price and Antoine Carr; Dickerson would reunite with his former University of Arizona teammate, second-year star Mike Bibby. Francis, now with the Rockets, would be named the co-NBA Rookie of the Year along with Elton Brand of the Chicago Bulls. During the off-season, the Grizzlies signed free agents Grant Long, and three-point specialist Dennis Scott.

After a 3–3 start to the regular season, the Grizzlies still struggled posting an 11-game losing streak, as head coach Brian Hill was fired after a 4–18 start to the season, and was replaced with assistant Lionel Hollins. The team posted a 12–game losing streak between February and March, losing 14 of their 15 games in March, and finishing in last place in the Midwest Division with a 22–60 record, which was the first time the franchise had won 20 or more games in a full 82-game season.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim averaged 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while Dickerson averaged 18.2 points and 1.4 steals per game, and also led the Grizzlies with 119 three-point field goals, and Bibby provided the team with 14.5 points, 8.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, Harrington contributed 13.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Bryant Reeves provided with 8.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Scott contributed 5.6 points per game, while Long provided with 4.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, but only played just 42 games due to a hand injury.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Dickerson and Bibby were both selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as members of the Sophomores team, while Bibby also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout. Dickerson also finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting. The Grizzlies finished 27th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 569,864 at General Motors Place during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league.

Following the season, Scott was traded along with second-year guard Felipe López, and Cherokee Parks to the Washington Wizards, but was released to free agency, while Carr retired, and Hollins was fired as head coach.

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1999 NBA draft

The Grizzlies originally had three picks entering the Draft. Steve Francis was the 2nd overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft from the University of Maryland. Francis most notably cried after being chosen by Vancouver, swearing the Chicago Bulls would regret selecting Elton Brand first overall instead.

Following Vancouver's draft, Francis publicly announced that he did not want to play for the Grizzlies, citing the distance from his Maryland home, taxes, endorsements, and God's will. Francis was heavily criticized for his antics, especially in Vancouver. Following his public outburst, Francis was traded to the Houston Rockets that summer in a three-team, 11-player deal that brought Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Antoine Carr, Brent Price, plus first- and second-round picks to the Grizzlies. He and Brand shared Rookie of the Year honors.

Obinna Ekezie from the University of Maryland was their second pick. Their final pick in the draft was Antwain Smith from the Saint Paul's College.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
12Steve FrancisPGUnited StatesMaryland
237Obinna EkezieC/PFMaryland
251Antwain SmithSFUnited StatesSaint Paul's College

Roster

  • Lionel Hollins
  • Jim Boylan
  • Lawrence Frank
  • Jack Nolan

Roster notes

  • Rookie point guard Milt Palacio also holds American citizenship.

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

82April 19@ Houston Rockets96–9222–6016,285

Player statistics

Ragular season

PlayerPOSGPGSMPREBASTSTLBLKPTSMPGRPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
SF**82****82****3,223****825**27189**87****1,663****39.3****10.1**3.31.1**1.1****20.3**
PG**82****82**3,155306**665****132**151,19038.53.7**8.1****1.6**.214.5
SG**82****82**3,103279208116451,49637.83.42.51.4.518.2
PF**82****82**2,6775639736581,07632.66.91.2.4.713.1
C69671,77339082333861125.75.71.2.5.68.9
SF6601,2631066928936919.11.61.0.4.15.6
SG65078112444321729212.01.9.7.5.34.5
C561480818335294516814.43.3.6.5.83.0
PG53039451482001087.41.0.9.4.02.0
PF42192023443451020321.95.61.01.1.24.8
PG410424376917114110.3.91.7.4.03.4
PF390351928941259.02.4.2.2.13.2
SG380581714312815215.31.91.1.3.24.0
SF210221327366710.51.5.3.1.33.2
SF1301813611734113.92.8.8.5.23.2

References

References

  1. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/VAN/2000.html 1999-00 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats]
  2. Wise, Mike. (July 1, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Safety First: The Bulls Make Brand the Top Pick". The New York Times.
  3. Heisler, Mark. (July 1, 1999). "Dukies Are Way Up". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "1999 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  5. White, Lonnie. (August 27, 1999). "Rockets Set to Get Francis in 10-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times.
  6. Wyche, Steve. (August 27, 1999). "Ex-Terp Francis Is Headed to the Rockets". The Washington Post.
  7. (August 28, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP -- HOUSTON; Rockets Get Francis in 3-Team Deal". The New York Times.
  8. (May 12, 2000). "Brand, Francis Share Rookie-of-Year Award". Los Angeles Times.
  9. (May 11, 2000). "Brand, Francis Share Top Rookie Honor". United Press International.
  10. (September 16, 1999). "Grizzlies Sign Veteran Long". CBS News.
  11. (October 28, 1999). "Dennis Scott, Vancouver Grizzlies". Orlando Sentinel.
  12. Wise, Mike. (October 31, 1999). "1999–2000 N.B.A. PREVIEW; The West Is Still the Best". The New York Times.
  13. (December 17, 1999). "Grizzlies Try to Rebound by Replacing Hill with Hollins". Los Angeles Times.
  14. "1999–2000 Vancouver Grizzlies Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  15. "1999–2000 Vancouver Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  16. (March 26, 2000). "Jazz Tame Grizzlies". CBS News.
  17. (February 12, 2000). "Sports Scoreboard". Times-Union.
  18. "2000 NBA Rising Stars: Rookies 92, Sophomores 83 (OT)". Basketball-Reference.
  19. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  20. "1999–2000 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  21. "1999–2000 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
  22. Wyche, Steve. (August 23, 2000). "In Trade, Wizards Get 4 for the Price of 1". The Washington Post.
  23. (August 23, 2000). "Rededicated, Eh? Ike Sent to Vancouver". Deseret News.
  24. (May 9, 2000). "Report: Hollins, Staff Fired by Vancouver". United Press International.
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