The 2000–01 NBA season was the Grizzlies' sixth season in the National Basketball Association. It would also be their final year in Vancouver. Entering their sixth season, the rumors of a move became a reality. Club owner Michael Heisley decided that it was time for the Grizzlies to move on. After five losing seasons had given the team low morale and decreasing support in the community, the team found themselves in debt. The team won four of their first five games, but then lost seven straight afterwards. On February 19, the Grizzlies were in last place in the Midwest Division with a record of 16–36, and Heisley traveled to Memphis to discuss a deal between the city and the team. The NBA would grant the team permission to move as the NBA determined that their time in Vancouver was a failure. The Grizzlies would go on to finish in last place again with a record of 23–59 under new head coach Sidney Lowe. In their final 2 games against the Toronto Raptors the Grizzlies would be swept as they had a 4–7 record in regular season games against their Canadian rival.

The Grizzlies had the second pick in the 2000 NBA draft, which they used to select Stromile Swift out of LSU. Transactions included acquiring Isaac Austin from the Washington Wizards while signing free agents Damon Jones, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf during the offseason. The team also re-signed Tony Massenburg after one season with the Houston Rockets. At midseason, Othella Harrington was traded to the New York Knicks for Erick Strickland.

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