Memphis holds an incredibly important spot in the Civil Rights Movement for many reasons, chief among them being the infamous stain it holds in the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and the majority African-American demographic of the city.
As a result, on MLK day, the meaning of the day is not lost on most Memphians and the need for continued work towards racial equality is recognized by the city arguably better than anywhere else. And for the 23rd straight year, the Memphis Grizzlies were at the center of the celebration of MLK in the city in front of a national audience on TNT.
In a small market like Memphis, the impact a professional sports team like the Grizzlies have on a city extends well beyond the court, and their celebration of MLK day has been a prime example of that over the years.
Every year in the days leading up to the game, the team takes a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where King was struck down at the young age of 39. Additionally, the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium is held pre-game, a discussion with each year’s Sports Legacy Award honorees. These are invaluable members of the sports community that help to advance civil rights and social equality, with Cheryl Miller, Tommie Smith, and A’Mare Stoudamire being the three honorees this year.
On the way to fans’ seats, local non-profit organizations that serve to help bridge the gap of racial inequality in the city flood the concourses of FedExForum with informational tables on ways to get involved in the city. Finally, current players spread their experiences and their reasons of why MLK should be as celebrated as he is throughout the game on the jumbotron during timeout breaks.
“It’s an honor and a privilege,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said on 92.9 FM’s pregame radio interview about being able to coach in the MLK day game every year.
Before tipoff, Jaren Jackson Jr. took the floor, and said, “Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His lessons for equality and mutual respect are more important than ever… Thank you for being here to celebrate his life.”
As for the game, it was yet another fierce battle in the budding rivalry between the Grizzlies and Timberwolves, worthy of the national spectacle given to it.
The highest scoring team in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies, struggled mightily to score in the first half and found themselves down 53-40 at the break. As is tradition against the Anthony Edwards led Timberwolves, the Grizzlies mounted a furious comeback on the backs of their Big Three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, who combined to score 65 of the Grizzlies 108 points.
Edwards, for the second time in as nine days, missed a potentially game winning three at the buzzer, and the Grizzlies prevailed with another hard fought victory.
On this day though, the game takes a back seat to it all in this city. Sports Legacy Award honoree and 1968 Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith said it best in his closing message in a video shown to the sold-out crowd of 18,119.
“We must be able to maintain our togetherness and be a contour over love, which this country needs to move forward," said Smith.
Thanks to the help of Grizzlies, the city of Memphis once again congregated at 191 Beale, in front of the nation, to spread the importance of this day and the necessary celebration of MLK’s life and message.
