Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has played for three teams during his storied NBA career and there was, apparently, never a chance that the Memphis Grizzlies would be one of them.
James, 41, unloaded on the city of Memphis during a Thursday, April 2, appearance on the Bob Does Sports YouTube show, urging the NBA to relocate them.
“[The Grizzlies’] best chance would have been in 2003 if they had won the [NBA draft] lottery,” James said, revealing the only way he would have played for Memphis. “And I might’ve pulled an Eli Manning and not shown up.”
Manning, 45, famously told the San Diego Chargers that he would refuse to play for the team if they picked him first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.
“Staying at the f***ing Hyatt at 41 years old, you think I want to do that s***?” James continued. “Being in Memphis on a random-a** Thursday. I’m not even the first guy to talk about this in the NBA. We’re all like, ‘You guys have to move.’”
James, who has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, suggested the NBA move the Grizzlies to Nashville.
“I’m not like the first guy to even talk about it in the NBA like we all are like, ‘you guys have to move,’” he said. “Just go over to Nashville, you’ve got Vanderbilt over there, you’ve got f***ing NASCAR. You’ve got a stadium, don’t they got a hockey team too?”
James isn’t the first NBA player to suggest the Grizzlies move to the state capital. The always opinionated Draymond Green broached the subject in March during an episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
“Memphis, which probably should be in Nashville, should be an Eastern Conference team. Definitely should be in Nashville,” he said. “Just do everybody a favor and move that team to Nashville. There are no great hotels in Memphis. I love the people of Memphis. They are incredible. Shoutout to the people of Memphis. I love them. But, just from an NBA standpoint, there’s not a sauna or a hot tub in sight.”
He continued, “Get [the Grizzlies] the hell out of Memphis and send them to Nashville. Like, come on. Do the right thing, people. It’s a reason the Tennessee Titans are in Nashville… Not one person would be upset.”
Despite outcry from opposing players, the Grizzlies seem to be locked into Memphis until at least 2029 when their deal with FedEx Forum expires. Memphis mayor Paul Young said in February that the city is “working hard” on an extension to keep the team in town.
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