The NBA and Canada were always a natural match, as James Naismith, the famed inventor of the sports, was a Canadian. However, after the Toronto Huskies folded after the NBA's first season in 1947, it took nearly 50 years for the NBA to return to the Great White North, as the Vancouver Grizzlies were on of two Canadian teams to join the league in 1995.

The Grizzlies would get off to a solid start stunning the Portland Trailblazers on the road 92-80 on November 3rd. Two nights later, the Grizzlies had a successful home debut at General Motors Place by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-98.

However, the Grizzlies would lose their next 19 games, as they went on to finish in last place in the Midwestern Division with an NBA worse record of 15-67, as only four Grizzlies averaged ten ppg, with Greg Anthony leading the way with a mediocre 14. 0 ppg.

The Grizzlies and the NBA's other Canadian expansion team, the Toronto Raptors would split two games.