Once upon a time, the Grizzlies were in Vancouver and the idea of seeing the NBA game grow across the city was real.
A number of reasons led to their move to Memphis and basketball was considered dead in Vancouver.
However, since then the city has changed and the game of basketball has flourished across Vancouver and Canada.
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Other leagues have popped up across the city to continue the sports growth in Vancouver. One of those leagues is the the Minor League Basketball Association (MLBA) who are home to the Vancouver Dragons competing out of the Northwest Conference.
Vancouver Dragons
It was announced in 2017 that the team would be one of the inaugural franchises in the Minor League Basketball Association.
The team led by Dikran Zabunyan consists of 18 players, including four from the lower mainland. They use the David E. Enarson Gymnasium on the Trinity Western University campus as their home court.
During their debut, they hosted the Kitsap Admirals and won by a score of 129-108.
Overall, organizers and players hope to gain valuable exposure through the league in hopes of advancing their basketball careers.