Shareef Abdur-Rahim was a beloved Grizzly after committing his future with the team

The Grizzlies were not an appealing team in the early years.

When the Grizzlies were still playing in Vancouver, they were an unpopular team because people disliked the idea of playing in Canada. Players like Steve Francis refused to play for the team even though he was drafted second overall in 1999.

That was different for the Grizzlies' third overall pick in 1996, Shareef Abdur-Rahim. The reliable forward was a mainstay for the starting lineup from his rookie year, even signing a six-year contract extension worth $71 million in 1999. He committed to the team when Vancouver was an unpopular destination.

"I just feel blessed and honored. I wouldn't have signed this if I didn't feel like we were moving in the right direction," Shareef said after signing the extension. "Honestly, I feel good about our team and the direction we're moving in. I feel good about the situation."

Abdur-Rahim was stellar for the Grizzlies

During his five seasons playing for Vancouver, Shareef was a borderline All-Star. He posted averages of 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, cementing himself as the star player for the Grizzlies. He might not have been an All-Star, but he was always one of the biggest names on the opponents' scouting reports.

His stardom in Vancouver and the money he received made it an easy decision for Reef. Grizzlies fans were ecstatic because the team was moving well with him as the centerpiece alongside Mike Bibby and Big Country Big Reeves.

Coach Brian Hill was ecstatic with how the team moved forward with Abdur-Rahim as a star player.

"It's a big step for the organization. It shows, number one, that we commit our players," Hill said during the announcement. "And even more importantly, it shows that, in Shareef's case, he's committed to us."

Abdur-Rahim did not last long after the extension

Unfortunately, that would not last long because, in 2001, the Grizzlies hit the reset button and wanted to build with the Draft. They traded Abdur-Rahim to the Hawks for Brevin Knight, Lorenzen Wright, and the draft rights to third-overall pick Pau Gasol.

It was an unfortunate end to Vancouver's greatest NBA player. He loved the city of Vancouver, but with the move to Memphis, there was a need for a restart with a new building block in Gasol. The Spaniard would set the tone for the Grizzlies for a long time, as he even had an impact of bringing in a new star player when Pau got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Abdur-Rahim loved playing for the Grizzlies but still enjoyed playing for teams like the Atlanta Hawks, where he got his first and only All-Star nod, the Portland Trail Blazers, and retiring with the Sacramento Kings.

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