The city of Memphis has had a rough go in the NBA this season. Aside from the Grizzlies finishing with a horrendous 25-57, they tried to trade the best player they have had in this decade, Ja Morant, only to discover that no other team wanted any part of him.
In addition, numerous NBA players have taken shots at Memphis as an NBA city, including the King, LeBron James, who recommended that the league should move the franchise to Nashville. Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green also criticized the city for lacking the amenities professional athletes need, such as a sauna or a hot tub.
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The latest NBA personality to offer his opinion on Memphis’ viability as an NBA city is a former Grizzlies player: Chandler Parsons. Although his stint in Memphis was forgettable, he spent three seasons with the Grizzlies, thereby giving him unique insight into the ins and outs of the place.
And when asked where he thought Memphis ranked on the list of the NBA’s best cities, he didn’t hesitate to say it belonged at the very bottom.
Bottom five
Parsons, a versatile 6’9″ forward who the Grizzlies signed to a massive four-year, $94 million contract in July 2016, prefaced everything by saying that he thought the fans in Memphis were nice and claimed that he still maintains meaningful relationships with some residents.
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“I’ll say this, I have great relationships there. The food there is great. The fans, when you’re good, it’s rocking. Like when you guys had the whole grit-and-grind era, it was popping. It is great,” he shared. “Now, when you look at the other 29 cities, where would I rank Memphis?”
“It’s bottom five.”
Parsons contended that as far as the fans and the cuisine go, they are top-notch. However, when Memphis is contrasted with other NBA cities, it simply doesn’t pass muster.
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“I mean, we’re talking Miami, Los Angeles, New York City. And now with the new teams coming in, if there’s expansion with Seattle and Las Vegas, it’s going to get pushed down even further,” Parsons added.
“But listen, I don’t want any more beef with Memphis. I said it. But it just wasn’t for me,” he stated.
Parsons’ contentious relationship with Memphis
While Parsons made it clear that his opinion of the city was purely subjective and unrelated to his personal experiences there during his stint with the team, it cannot be denied that he will always associate Memphis with a dark time in his life.
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As mentioned, Parsons signed a lucrative contract and was expected to be the final piece of a team that aspired for the title. With All-Stars Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and defensive maestro Tony Allen, the Grizzlies only needed a versatile wingman who could help with the scoring and playmaking duties—a role that Parsons was suited for.
However, he couldn’t live up to expectations because knee injuries prevented him from suiting up. All told, he played in only 95 games across three seasons before getting traded to the Atlanta Hawks in July 2019. As he dealt with his knee issues, Parsons felt unwelcome in the city and the franchise that gave him that deal.
“I just felt, not attacked, but just like I was in a constant battle with my own home fans and my own front office, my own ownership, kind of like almost blaming me for taking this contract,” Parsons recalled.
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Unfortunately for the former Gator, he would play in only five more NBA games as he was hit by a drunk driver in January 2020, suffering career-threatening injuries. Two years later, he announced his retirement from the league.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.