Remembering how Mike Conley and the crew embodied the Grit N' Grind style

In the 2010s, the league was dominated by any team LeBron James was playing for and an assortment of Western Conference teams. The Memphis Grizzlies were one of the teams battling it out in the loaded West, as they surprised most people by competing on the same level as the Kevin Durant-led OKC Thunder and the Golden State Warriors.

Due to their status as the team on the cusp of contention, the Grizzlies were getting overlooked. That made the team feel doubted, which became their primary motivation to perform at the highest level.

“Doubting the Grizzlies? We’ve heard that before. Old news. Memphis is a basketball town, but we’re not viewed that way on the national map,” Conley said on The Players’ Tribune. “If you’re not a Grizz fan, you might not even know what we’re up to until playoffs come around. We get forgotten and sometimes slighted. And I’m tired of that. I’m tired of being underrated. I’m tired of being overlooked. We all are. In Memphis, we don’t talk. We ball.”

The Grizzlies thrived under pressure

The 2010s Memphis roster was one of the most celebrated in the team’s history because they never backed down from a challenge. They always embodied the Grit and Grind mentality because they kept clawing at their opponents.

The Grizzlies were among the most entertaining teams in the mid-2010s because they played a unique style. Most teams loved playing a fast-paced offensive system, but Memphis kept popping up and competing against some of the best teams. They competed well against the dynasty Warriors and the champion San Antonio Spurs.

That pressure made Memphis such a compelling team to watch because they were not the most talented team, but they always proved they could compete at the highest level. Conley, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol became legends in Memphis because they represented the city well with their constant competitiveness.

The current Grizzlies are carrying the torch

Even the current Memphis team is getting similar treatment, as they are a more exciting team to watch with their athleticism. However, they are getting doubted by the media because they are not popular like the Lakers or Warriors.

However, today’s Grizzlies team has the same boldness as the Grit and Grind era of Allen and Randolph, who were vocal with how they challenged their rivals. Players like Conley and Gasol were silent players, but they did their talking on the court.

The same goes for the current team with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane loving their trash talk. No matter what era, Grizzlies players will always represent the city well with how they compete and prove the doubters wrong.

Related: Damian Lillard shares honest take on Ja Morant