If you walk around Memphis and ask 1,000 people where they’re from, plenty will tell you Memphis, Tennessee.
Well, of course. That’s what they’re factually supposed to say.
Others might say Shelby County. But there’s another answer you’ll hear around here.
Memphis, Memphis.
It’s a phrase rooted in Memphis pride, and to some degree, a disconnect from the rest of Tennessee — particularly Nashville, the state capital.
Memphis and Nashville actually have plenty in common. Both have deep musical identities, even if blues and country have traditionally occupied different corners of the cultural landscape. But there are also differences in politics, economics and identity that have long created a distance between the two cities.
Sports, however, have a way
of serving as a connector.
That brings us to the Memphis Grizzlies.
For the third consecutive year, the Grizzlies will hold their preseason training camp in Nashville.
Does that mean something?
There are layers to the answer.
For starters, the Grizzlies have a fan base in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee. Plenty of fans make the drive west down I-40 for games at FedExForum. That regional support matters for a franchise trying to maximize its reach.
The Grizzlies occupy a unique place in the NBA. They have a seven-state television footprint that stretches across parts of Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and southern Illinois. There simply aren’t many professional basketball options throughout that broader region. Nashville is part of that equation.
Then there’s the national conversation.
In April, NBA star LeBron James suggested the Grizzlies should move to Nashville after expressing his displeasure with Memphis hotels. His comments sparked a broader conversation, with Golden State forward Draymond Green among other NBA figures who criticized aspects of Memphis.
Other players and coaches defended the city.
Interestingly, the talk didn’t seem to create much of a Memphis-versus-Nashville divide. If anything, there was a sense of uneasiness about the idea.
Even Nashville’s mayor, Freddie O’Connell, defended Memphis while discussing the possibility of the Grizzlies playing games in Nashville.
“I love Memphis and the Grizzlies,” O’Connell told TMZ in March. “They do training camps here, and we’d love to see them play a few games here, but our most recent bids have been for professional women’s teams.”
And now the Grizzlies are back in Nashville, albeit briefly.
Training camp begins Sept. 29 at Belmont University and runs through Oct. 2. The Grizzlies first held camp in Nashville while FedExForum was undergoing renovations in 2024. Players and coaches have consistently talked about the benefits of getting away from home for a few days and eliminating distractions while preparing for the season (practices aren't open to the public).
The aspect of NBA teams practicing in other cities isn't unique to Memphis. The Atlanta Hawks also will be holding training camp in Nashville this year. The Boston Celtics will be in Charleston, South Carolina. Other teams will travel to places such as Spain, Hawaii and Quebec City for camp.
So the Grizzlies practicing in Nashville isn’t necessarily some grand statement about the future. But it is another reminder that they have a relationship with a city that sits only a few hours away. As uncomfortable or hard to accept as that may be for those from Memphis, Memphis, it’s the truth.
Maybe the Grizzlies eventually play some games in Nashville. Maybe they don’t.
But there’s an audience that would welcome them. Even NBA commissioner Adam Silver supports the idea of the Grizzlies playing a few official games in Nashville.
But there’s an important distinction between expanding the Grizzlies’ reach and changing where the Grizzlies belong.
The pride of Grizzlies basketball begins in Memphis, and three consecutive training camps in Nashville won't change that.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The Memphis Grizzlies are in Nashville again. Does that mean anything?
