Growl Towel

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A Growl Towel is the colloquial name used to refer to the rally towels given to fans prior to National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff games involving the Memphis Grizzlies.

Contents

Origin

The original Growl Towels were given out from 2004 to 2006, when the Grizzlies made three straight playoffs . However, the Grizzlies were swept by their opponents in all three appearances, so only six different towels were made. The Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs for the next four seasons, so the Growl Towel was shelved.

The Growl Towel is actually traced back to the Lafayette Leopards (Lafayette College, Easton PA) during the 1980's. Photos in their archives will show this. https://ldr.lafayette.edu/concern/images/wh246s748

2004 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
San Antonio Spurs Game 3Believe ItWhite
San Antonio SpursGame 4Believe ItWhite

2005 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Phoenix Suns Game 3Play OnWhite
Phoenix SunsGame 4Play OnWhite

2006 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Dallas Mavericks Game 3Play On Play On

Play On Play On Play On Play On

White
Dallas MavericksGame 4Play On Play On

Play On Play On Play On Play On

White

2011 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
San Antonio SpursGame 3Believe MemphisWhite
San Antonio SpursGame 4Believe MemphisWhite
San Antonio SpursGame 6Believe MemphisWhite

Western Conference semifinals

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Oklahoma City Thunder Game 3Believe MemphisGold
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 4Believe MemphisGold
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 6Believe MemphisGold

2012 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
LA Clippers Game 1Believe MemphisGold
LA ClippersGame 2Believe MemphisGold
La ClippersGame 5Believe MemphisGold
La ClippersGame 7Believe MemphisGold

2013 Playoffs

Starting with the 2013 Playoffs, the growl towels started to feature different captions in each game, in addition to the traditional "Believe Memphis" towel. The Nashville Company called '' Something Inked '', which specialises in custom promotional products, produces a new growl towel for each playoff game.

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
LA ClippersGame 3Believe MemphisGold
LA ClippersGame 4Alternating “Grit” and “Grind”Gold
La ClippersGame 6We Don't BluffGold

Western Conference Semifinals

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 3Believe MemphisGold
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 4Alternating “All Heart” and “Grit and Grind”Gold

Western Conference Finals

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
San Antonio SpursGame 3Believe MemphisGold
San Antonio SpursGame 4We Don't BluffGold

2014 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 3Believe MemphisGold
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 4We Don't BluffGold
Oklahoma City ThunderGame 6All Heart. Grit. GrindGold

2015 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Portland Trail Blazers Game 1Believe MemphisGold
Portland Trail BlazersGame 2Alternating “Grit” and “Grind”Gold
Portland Trail BlazersGame 5We Don't BluffGold

Western Conference Semifinals

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Golden State Warriors Game 3Memphis vs. ErrrbodyGold
Golden State WarriorsGame 4Believe MemphisGold
Golden State WarriorsGame 6All HeartGold

[1]

2016 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
San Antonio SpursGame 3Believe MemphisGold
San Antonio SpursGame 4All HeartGold


2021 Playoffs

Play-In

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
San Antonio SpursGame 1Nxt Up MemphisGold

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Utah Jazz Game 3Ya Hear Me!Gold
Utah JazzGame 4"I'm on my grizzly"Gold

2022 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Minnesota Timberwolves Game 1MemThisGold
Minnesota TimberwolvesGame 2Ain't No Runnin' in the MGold
Minnesota TimberwolvesGame 5Memphis Memphis

Memphis Memphis Memphis Memphis

Gold

Western Conference Semifinals

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Golden State WarriorsGame 1We HereGold
Golden State WarriorsGame 2Big MemphisGold
Golden State WarriorsGame 5Ain't Duckin' No SmokeGold

2023 Playoffs

Round 1

OpponentGameCaption on TowelColor
Los Angeles Lakers Game 1With UsGold
Los Angeles LakersGame 2For The MGold
Los Angeles LakersGame 5Big MemphisGold

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References

  1. "Historical List of Growl Towels & Grizzlies' Record With Each". 3sob.com. 2015-05-11. Retrieved 2015-05-16.