# 1997–98 Vancouver Grizzlies season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Grizzlies' third season in the National Basketball Association. After finishing with the worst record in their first two seasons, the Grizzlies selected Antonio Daniels out of Bowling Green State University with the fourth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. In the off-season, the team hired Brian Hill as their new head coach; Hill previously coached the Orlando Magic, and led them to the 1995 NBA Finals, where they lost in four straight games to the Houston Rockets. The team also acquired Otis Thorpe from the Detroit Pistons, acquired three-point specialist Sam Mack from the Houston Rockets, and acquired Tony Massenburg from the Boston Celtics.
The Grizzlies played around .500 early into the season with a 6–7 start, but then struggled again posting a 13-game losing streak between December and January, and held a 13–36 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, Thorpe was traded back to his former team, the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Michael Smith and Bobby Hurley, while Anthony Peeler was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Doug West. The Grizzlies finally escaped last place by finishing sixth in the Midwest Division with a 19–63 record.
Leading the way in scoring again was second-year star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who averaged 22.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while Bryant Reeves averaged 16.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, Mack and sixth man Blue Edwards both contributed 10.8 points per game each, and Daniels provided the team with 7.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. In addition, George Lynch provided with 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and Lee Mayberry contributed 4.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, after replacing Daniels as the team's starting point guard midway through the season.
Following the season, Daniels was traded to the San Antonio Spurs after just one season with the Grizzlies, while Edwards signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat during the next season, Lynch signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Hurley was released to free agency.
For the season, the Grizzlies added new black alternate road uniforms with turquoise side panels, which would become their primary road jerseys for the 2000–01 season.

## Draft picks

The Grizzlies first draft pick was Antonio Daniels, which was the fourth overall pick in the draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 4 | Antonio Daniels | PG/SG | United States | Bowling Green State University |
| 2 | 52 | C.J. Bruton | G | United States | Indian Hills Junior College |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Shooting guard Doug West was acquired by the Grizzlies from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a mid-season trade, but did not play for the Grizzlies this season due to going into rehab for alcohol treatment, and a hip contusion.

## Regular season

The Grizzlies got off to their best start in team history, as thirteen games into the season, the team had a 6–7 record. On October 31, 1997, Violet Palmer made history in Vancouver when she officiated the NBA season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks, in British Columbia, Canada. The team would then fall into a slump, which included a thirteen-game losing streak as they fell out of playoff contention. Vancouver would finish the year with a 19–63 record, their best in team history, and finish out of last place for the first time ever.

### Highs

* Vancouver recorded their first ever three game winning streak, as on January 20, they defeated the Denver Nuggets, followed by sweeping a home and home series against the Golden State Warriors.
* On March 23, 1998, Vancouver defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 106–95 to earn their sixteenth win of the season, a team record. Vancouver finished with nineteen wins, four higher than their previous high of fifteen, set in 1995–96.
* The Grizzlies finished out of the Midwest Division cellar for the first time in team history, as they had a 19–63 record, eight games better than the Denver Nuggets, who finished the year 11–71.

### Lows

* On January 15, 1998, the Washington Wizards defeat Vancouver 112–110, sending the Grizzlies to their thirteenth consecutive loss.
* From January 27 to April 5, the Grizzlies win only 3 of 31 games.

### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 22–2 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 | 31–10 | 25–16 | 18–6 |
| x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 24–17 | 17–24 | 14–10 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 | 13–28 | 7–34 | 9–15 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 | 14–27 | 5–36 | 4–20 |
| Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 | 9–32 | 2–39 | 3–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 11 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
| 14 | Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 |

### Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Boston | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Charlotte | 0–4 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

| # | Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Attendance |
| 1 | October 31 | Dallas Mavericks | 88–90 | 0–1 | 17,021 |
| 2 | November 1 | Sacramento Kings | 97–96 | 1–1 | 15,460 |
| 3 | November 4 | @ Dallas Mavericks | 87–92 | 1–2 | 14,285 |
| 4 | November 5 | @ San Antonio Spurs | 79–87 | 1–3 | 14,523 |
| 5 | November 7 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 97–108 | 1–4 | 15,302 |
| 6 | November 9 | Detroit Pistons | 104–96 (OT) | 2–4 | 14,925 |
| 7 | November 11 | Los Angeles Clippers | 119–113 | 3–4 | 15,160 |
| 8 | November 12 | @ Utah Jazz | 80–98 | 3–5 | 19,851 |
| 9 | November 15 | Milwaukee Bucks | 109–94 | 4–5 | 17,666 |
| 10 | November 16 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | 95–121 | 4–6 | 17,139 |
| 11 | November 18 | @ Denver Nuggets | 100–87 | 5–6 | 9,718 |
| 12 | November 19 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | 87–107 | 5–7 | 17,072 |
| 13 | November 21 | Denver Nuggets | 99–96 | 6–7 | 15,988 |
| 14 | November 23 | @ New York Knicks | 84–104 | 6–8 | 19,763 |
| 15 | November 26 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | 82–101 | 6–9 | 15,126 |
| 16 | November 27 | @ Indiana Pacers | 85–106 | 6–10 | 14,391 |
| 17 | November 29 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | 87–106 | 6–11 | 17,494 |
| 18 | November 30 | @ Detroit Pistons | 97–95 | 7–11 | 16,030 |
| 19 | December 3 | Orlando Magic | 97–101 | 7–12 | 15,069 |
| 20 | December 5 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 98–107 | 7–13 | 15,558 |
| 21 | December 9 | @ Phoenix Suns | 85–107 | 7–14 | 19,023 |
| 22 | December 12 | Golden State Warriors | 95–88 | 8–14 | 14,810 |
| 23 | December 14 | Houston Rockets | 110–105 | 9–14 | 14,411 |
| 24 | December 16 | @ Houston Rockets | 91–118 | 9–15 | 16,285 |
| 25 | December 17 | @ San Antonio Spurs | 87–98 | 9–16 | 13,576 |
| 26 | December 19 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | 91–96 | 9–17 | 19,863 |
| 27 | December 21 | Portland Trail Blazers | 88–86 | 10–17 | 15,174 |
| 28 | December 26 | Phoenix Suns | 100–118 | 10–18 | 17,023 |
| 29 | December 28 | Utah Jazz | 88–89 | 10–19 | 16,488 |
| 30 | December 30 | San Antonio Spurs | 115–124 | 10–20 | 15,872 |
| 31 | January 1 | Philadelphia 76ers | 104–115 | 10–21 | 15,495 |
| 32 | January 2 | @ Sacramento Kings | 80–94 | 10–22 | 13,925 |
| 33 | January 4 | Seattle SuperSonics | 108–120 | 10–23 | 15,122 |
| 34 | January 6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 87–100 | 10–24 | 15,837 |
| 35 | January 7 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | 102–110 | 10–25 | 4,107 |
| 36 | January 9 | Charlotte Hornets | 90–98 | 10–26 | 15,251 |
| 37 | January 11 | Miami Heat | 90–96 | 10–27 | 15,186 |
| 38 | January 13 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | 89–107 | 10–28 | 10,838 |
| 39 | January 15 | @ Boston Celtics | 93–97 | 10–29 | 16,855 |
| 40 | January 16 | @ Washington Wizards | 110–112 | 10–30 | 16,763 |
| 41 | January 20 | Denver Nuggets | 88–77 | 11–30 | 15,852 |
| 42 | January 23 | @ Golden State Warriors | 88–80 | 12–30 | 12,359 |
| 43 | January 24 | Golden State Warriors | 107–96 | 13–30 | 16,223 |
| 44 | January 27 | Chicago Bulls | 85–103 | 13–31 | 19,193 |
| 45 | January 29 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 106–112 | 13–32 | 15,111 |
| 46 | January 31 | New Jersey Nets | 106–116 | 13–33 | 17,094 |
| 47 | February 2 | @ Dallas Mavericks | 90–104 | 13–34 | 11,049 |
| 48 | February 3 | @ Houston Rockets | 97–110 | 13–35 | 16,285 |
| 49 | February 5 | @ Charlotte Hornets | 93–108 | 13–36 | 21,984 |
| 50 | February 12 | Houston Rockets | 103–112 | 13–37 | 15,620 |
| 51 | February 14 | Washington Wizards | 110–108 | 14–37 | 16,105 |
| 52 | February 18 | Boston Celtics | 105–114 | 14–38 | 16,703 |
| 53 | February 20 | @ Atlanta Hawks | 92–115 | 14–39 | 9,022 |
| 54 | February 22 | @ Toronto Raptors | 105–113 (OT) | 14–40 | 16,932 |
| 55 | February 24 | @ New Jersey Nets | 101–110 | 14–41 | 13,335 |
| 56 | February 25 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | 101–106 | 14–42 | 13,701 |
| 57 | March 1 | Atlanta Hawks | 76–101 | 14–43 | 15,371 |
| 58 | March 3 | Indiana Pacers | 103–111 | 14–44 | 15,095 |
| 59 | March 6 | Sacramento Kings | 96–98 | 14–45 | 14,605 |
| 60 | March 8 | Toronto Raptors | 113–106 | 15–45 | 16,098 |
| 61 | March 12 | @ Denver Nuggets | 93–98 | 15–46 | 9,112 |
| 62 | March 13 | @ Utah Jazz | 101–110 | 15–47 | 19,911 |
| 63 | March 15 | Los Angeles Lakers | 110–119 | 15–48 | 18,983 |
| 64 | March 17 | @ Orlando Magic | 92–99 | 15–49 | 17,248 |
| 65 | March 18 | @ Miami Heat | 91–94 | 15–50 | 14,653 |
| 66 | March 20 | @ Chicago Bulls | 92–98 | 15–51 | 24,023 |
| 67 | March 21 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | 88–102 | 15–52 | 18,336 |
| 68 | March 23 | Los Angeles Clippers | 106–95 | 16–52 | 15,392 |
| 69 | March 26 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | 102–108 | 16–53 | 20,581 |
| 70 | March 27 | New York Knicks | 89–97 (OT) | 16–54 | 17,630 |
| 71 | March 29 | @ Phoenix Suns | 98–106 | 16–55 | 19,023 |
| 72 | March 31 | Dallas Mavericks | 101–104 | 16–56 | 15,120 |
| 73 | April 3 | Seattle SuperSonics | 98–138 | 16–57 | 19,193 |
| 74 | April 5 | Utah Jazz | 93–99 | 16–58 | 18,068 |
| 75 | April 7 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | 110–94 | 17–58 | 5,124 |
| 76 | April 8 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | 102–113 | 17–59 | 17,505 |
| 77 | April 11 | Portland Trail Blazers | 105–96 (OT) | 18–59 | 16,432 |
| 78 | April 12 | Phoenix Suns | 106–129 | 18–60 | 16,266 |
| 79 | April 14 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | 98–110 | 18–61 | 17,072 |
| 80 | April 16 | San Antonio Spurs | 97–110 | 18–62 | 17,485 |
| 81 | April 18 | @ Golden State Warriors | 100–112 | 18–63 | 16,481 |
| 82 | April 19 | @ Sacramento Kings | 112–108 (OT) | 19–63 | 15,329 |

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Shareef Abdur-Rahim | SF | 82 | 82 | 2,950 | 581 | 213 | 89 | 76 | 1,829 | 36.0 | 7.1 | 2.6 | 1.1 | .9 | 22.3 |
| George Lynch | SF | 82 | 0 | 1,493 | 362 | 122 | 65 | 41 | 616 | 18.2 | 4.4 | 1.5 | .8 | .5 | 7.5 |
| Pete Chilcutt | PF | 82 | 0 | 1,420 | 306 | 104 | 53 | 37 | 405 | 17.3 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .6 | .5 | 4.9 |
| Blue Edwards | SG | 81 | 20 | 1,968 | 217 | 201 | 86 | 27 | 872 | 24.3 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .3 | 10.8 |
| Lee Mayberry | PG | 79 | 32 | 1,835 | 114 | 349 | 65 | 10 | 363 | 23.2 | 1.4 | 4.4 | .8 | .1 | 4.6 |
| Bryant Reeves | C | 74 | 74 | 2,527 | 585 | 155 | 39 | 80 | 1,207 | 34.1 | 7.9 | 2.1 | .5 | 1.1 | 16.3 |
| Antonio Daniels | SG | 74 | 50 | 1,956 | 143 | 334 | 55 | 10 | 579 | 26.4 | 1.9 | 4.5 | .7 | .1 | 7.8 |
| Tony Massenburg | C | 61 | 13 | 894 | 232 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 396 | 14.7 | 3.8 | .3 | .4 | .4 | 6.5 |
| Sam Mack | SF | 57 | 54 | 1,414 | 133 | 101 | 41 | 11 | 616 | 24.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | .7 | .2 | 10.8 |
| Otis Thorpe$^†$ | PF | 47 | 46 | 1,574 | 371 | 161 | 30 | 23 | 528 | 33.5 | 7.9 | 3.4 | .6 | .5 | 11.2 |
| Michael Smith$^†$ | PF | 30 | 29 | 706 | 206 | 59 | 26 | 6 | 182 | 23.5 | 6.9 | 2.0 | .9 | .2 | 6.1 |
| Ivano Newbill | PF | 28 | 2 | 249 | 69 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 58 | 8.9 | 2.5 | .3 | .4 | .1 | 2.1 |
| Bobby Hurley$^†$ | PG | 27 | 0 | 458 | 30 | 97 | 10 | 0 | 122 | 17.0 | 1.1 | 3.6 | .4 | .0 | 4.5 |
| Chris Robinson$^†$ | SG | 16 | 0 | 143 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 54 | 8.9 | .8 | .6 | .4 | .1 | 3.4 |
| Anthony Peeler$^†$ | SG | 8 | 8 | 202 | 20 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 79 | 25.3 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .0 | 9.9 |
| Larry Robinson | SF | 6 | 0 | 41 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 6.8 | 2.0 | .2 | .7 | .0 | 2.8 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Grizzlies only.

## Transactions

Vancouver acquired forward-center Otis Thorpe in a trade with the Detroit Pistons. The Grizzlies gave up a conditional first round draft pick. Vancouver also acquired Sam Mack from the Houston Rockets to become the team's starting shooting guard. Midway through the season, Thorpe was traded along with Chris Robinson to the Sacramento Kings for Michael Smith and Bobby Hurley.
The Grizzlies hired Brian Hill to become the head coach. Hill had previously been the head coach of the Orlando Magic from 1993 to 1997, leading them to a 191–104 record under his helm. The Magic advanced to the 1995 NBA Finals and had a 60 win season in 1995–96.