Adam Silver does not support LeBron James’ decision to relocate to Memphis.
While the NBA commissioner is supportive of the Grizzlies staying in Memphis and says the team has no intentions to relocate anytime soon, he is not averse to the team playing in the state capital.
“Obviously, Nashville is a city on the ascent. “There are amazing things happening there,” Silver said on “Pardon My Take” on Wednesday. “If it were up to me, I’d like for them to play a few games a year in Nashville and kind of be Tennessee’s team, to the extent that they can. “
LeBron James roasts Memphis.
Silver made his statements a few weeks after James thoroughly trashed Memphis. It is clear that the 41-year-old celebrity dislikes performing on the road there.
“Do you think I want to do that st, being in Memphis on a random-ass Thursday? ” James asked during the “Bob Does Sports” YouTube show while golfing.
LeBron James on playing the Grizzlies:
“I’m fing 41 years old. Do you really believe I want to do anything in Memphis on a random Thursday? I’m not the first NBA player to address this topic. You need to transfer the team… Go to Nashville already. “
He then stated that the Grizzlies should relocate to Nashville, adding that he is not the only one in the league who believes this.
“We’re all like, ‘You guys have to move,'” he said. “Just go to Nashville. You have Vanderbilt over there. You received the fing NASCAR. You have a stadium, so shouldn’t you have a hockey team as well? … They got everything. “
The Grizzlies joined the league in 1995, but they began in Vancouver and joined the NBA at the same time as the Toronto Raptors. The team moved to Memphis from Canada ahead of the 2001-02 season and has remained there ever since.
While James argues that Nashville is a larger city with sports infrastructure and other professional teams already in place — the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, NHL’s Nashville Predators, and MLS’s Nashville SC all call the city home — Silver is not advocating for the Grizzlies to relocate to the state’s center.
Silver noted that James’ viewpoint is not the dominant one across the league.
“Players I talk to on a regular basis enjoy playing in Memphis,” Silver said. “I’ve never heard of players not wanting to be in Memphis. ” … Memphis has historically been a strong NBA market. That city has incredible history and culture. It’s a vast country. As I watch at our 30 teams, I want them to succeed in every area. … From my perspective, there’s no reason why the Memphis Grizzlies cannot be successful. “
NBA commissioner Adam Silver ‘would like to see’ the Grizzlies play games in Nashville.
The Memphis Grizzlies and the notion of relocating to Nashville have been a popular subject in recent months.
NBA players Draymond Green and LeBron James have openly discussed the possibility of relocating the Grizzlies to Nashville.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast and presented a prospect. Silver says Grizzlies owner Robert Pera has no intention of relocating the team, but the commissioner believes there is a way to please Nashville supporters.
“Nashville is definitely a city on the rise,” Silver told us. There are some amazing things happening there. If it were up to me, I would like to see the Grizzlies play a few games each year in Nashville, essentially functioning as Tennessee’s team to the greatest extent possible. Memphis has always been a terrific market for the NBA, with a rich history and culture. It’s a vast country. So, as I look out at our 30 teams, we want them to perform effectively everywhere. We have a revenue sharing system, and other things. But, from my perspective, there is no reason why the Memphis Grizzlies cannot be successful. “
For the past two years, the Grizzlies have began preseason training camp in Nashville. They began camp at The Ensworth School in 2024 and trained at Belmont in 2025.
Memphis also conducted open practices for supporters in Nashville in the past. The Grizzlies have never played an NBA game in Nashville.
