Jason Wexler

Michael Wallace Grind Cit

How much should it reflect the identity, spirit and soul of the town and the collection of individuals who bear that name across the jerseys? To what painstaking length do researchers reach, designers dig and strategists stretch to find that symbolic match?

Every player on the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster has a unique story. But rookie Wayne Selden best embodies the rapid development these past few months that now links the Grizzlies and their expansion development league franchise that will play next season in the soon-to-be named NBA G-League.

So when Selden learned this week that new team will be called the Memphis Hustle, he knew right away the name not only fits, but would also stick and be a huge hit.

“Hustle is perfect,” said Selden, an undrafted rookie who spent time in the D-League last season before working his way back and onto the Grizzlies playoff roster. “I feel like that’s just how I go about my day, my life. Everything has to be with hustle and everything is a hustle. Everything is about trying to better yourself. And the best way to better yourself on and off the court is to hustle and get after it, you know? That’s a perfect name for a team rather than having a random bird or something. Hustle is just perfect.”

Hustle is perfect because it matches the identity of this team and town. It works because it’s right there with ‘All Heart’ and ‘Grint’N’Grind’ and is saturated with the flavor and swagger for which the Grizzlies are known. Hustle is a verb and a noun, an action and an occupation.

You don’t make it in Memphis without hustling. It’s a way of life. Many folks don’t get by without a hustle, and sometimes even a side hustle when the primary hustle just doesn’t quite cut it. Survival here requires a hustle and a flow. But make no mistake about it: when it comes to NBA development, the Memphis Hustle is more than a brand name. It’s an organic extension of the Grizzlies.

“With that understanding, we went and started the process with how we created an identity for this team,” said Jason Wexler, Grizzlies president of business operations. “From there, it led us down a path that ended up with the Memphis Hustle because of the one-to-one connection between the Hustle and Grit’N’Grind. How do you get from D-League to the NBA? You hustle and you grit and grind. What kind of players do we look for in this franchise? All of that started to tie together. We didn’t want it to be just some adjunct offshoot. It’s core to what we want to accomplish.”

The Grizzlies announced in January they acquired an expansion D-League franchise that would be run out of FedExForum and play home games in nearby Southaven, Miss. at the Landers Center. The move ended the Grizzlies’ affiliation with the D-League’s Iowa Energy franchise in favor of owning and operating a team in close proximity of the NBA parent franchise.

In Memphis’ case, the Grizzlies and Hustle are sharing the same practice and training facility, the same medical staff, the same mission, the same mindset. Essentially, the last man on the Hustle’s roster will walk through the same halls on a daily basis as Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. The same practice and game plans Grizzlies coach David Fizdale will implement at FedExForum’s Built Ford Tough Training Facility in the morning will be the same blueprint from which Hustle coach Glynn Cyprien instructs his team during an afternoon walk-through in the same complex.

“We’ll be an extension of the Grizzlies, so there will be a ton of plays and things we do that Coach Fizdale is doing,” Cyprien told the Chris Vernon Show podcast. “It’s about development, so you tweak rosters and you tweak spots. Some guys play multiple positions, and you try to get them comfortable. We want to win every game, but it’s all about development. We’re building this from the ground up.”

Cyprien said the Hustle will be among teams participating in a development league draft in August to acquire initial players for the roster. Cyprien also anticipates the Hustle will have a strong influence of prospects from colleges throughout the region. The pipeline has been productive for the Grizzlies, with current players Selden, JaMychal Green, Andrew Harrison, Jarell Martin, Deyonta Davis and Wade Baldwin IV all serving recent stints in the D-League.

The Hustle will be one of 26 teams to compete in what will be called the G-League next season. NBA Development League president Malcolm Turner, who visited Memphis for January’s expansion announcement, referred to the Grizzlies as a model franchise for how the NBA and minor league affiliations should be operated. Selecting a team name and logo were months in the making, and the Grizzlies are in the midst of several events to showcase the Hustle’s launch.

Cyprien, who finished this past season as the Iowa Energy’s interim coach, was officially named the Hustle’s coach on Tuesday, when the team also named Chris Makris as general manager. Revealing the team name and logo Thursday will be followed by Friday’s celebration for the Hustle at Tanger Outlets mall in Southaven, and then Saturday’s Fan Fest at the Landers Center.

Wexler insists the game-night fan experience at the Landers Center will also reflect the continuity on the court between the Grizzlies and Hustle.

“We’ll not be an outside observer, but an inside partner,” Wexler said. “People affiliated with Grizzlies are in ticket sales, the marketing side and entertainment side. We’ll be able to leverage all of our Grizzlies’ assets to create a better, more positive, more fun, more engaged D-League experience for our fans there than we would otherwise be able to do if they were two or three hours away. We’ll be able to operate from the Landers Center as a second facility.”

If things work out according to Selden’s plan and he continues to impress with the Grizzlies, he won’t have to return to the development league or wear a Hustle uniform anytime soon.

“Stuff ain’t going to always go perfect, and you have to go through it to get to it,” Selden said. “That’s what the hustle is. I was going through a process, and I’m still going through a process. Everybody has their own timetable. You can’t rush your development. And from a mental standpoint, I went in there not the happiest to have to do it. And then once I bought in, that’s when I saw a lot of progress. That’s when I saw things start moving. And by the time I knew it, I was in the playoffs with the Grizzlies.”

That’s why Selden will be on hand for the festivities this weekend to welcome the Hustle. It’s a perfect fit. His journey to the NBA personifies what this new squad that will play at Landers Center is all about.

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Memphis set to ’Hustle’ with D-League expansion squad

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Memphis Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert Pera announced today that he has promoted Jason Wexler to President of Business Operations of the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum. Previously, Wexler served as the organization's Chief Operating Officer since 2013.

In his new position, Wexler will have primary leadership responsibility for all aspects of the business including, ticket sales and service, arena operations, corporate partnerships, marketing communications and broadcast, community investment and general operations.

"Jason has done a tremendous job for us. We share a strong affinity for this community and a clear vision for growing the Grizzlies' organization," said Pera. "During Jason's tenure he has cultivated a strong business operations team that shares our core principles and revamped the organization's approach to business analytics, sales and marketing and digital assets. I am confident that he and his talented team will continue to inspire trust in the community and exceed the high expectations we all have for the future."

"I'm honored by the trust which Robert has placed in me to lead the organization moving forward," said Wexler. "Robert not only wants to win but has demonstrated a deep commitment to building a sustainable, world-class organization. We are a city built on hard work and an authentic and growing sense of community. Today I am presented with the opportunity to continue that work and help shape and build on the unique and special bond between this city and its team."

A recipient of the 2012 Downtown Vision Award for individual achievement by the Downtown Memphis Commission, Wexler also serves on the Board of Directors for Indie Memphis, the Overton Park Conservancy, the Memphis Chapter of the Urban Land Institute, Neighborhood Preservation, Inc. and the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis.

Prior to the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum, Wexler served as President of the Henry Turley Company, where he was responsible for spearheading efforts to realize compelling city center development initiatives and managing the day-to-day operations of a full service real estate firm. Previously, Wexler founded the real estate development and investment firm Greenhat Partners LLC, and prior to that was a partner in the Memphis law firm of Hanover, Walsh, Jalenak and Blair, PLLC.

Wexler graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and from Columbia Law School.

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies by purchasing 2014-15 Season Tickets can do so by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com. For more information on the Grizzlies, 'like' Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).

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Memphis Grizzlies promote Jason Wexler to President of Business Operations

The Memphis Grizzlies announced that they have committed to raising $2.5 million over 10 years to continue helping St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® lead the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. 

The commitment cements a longstanding and robust partnership between the Grizzlies and St. Jude. The Grizzlies regularly hosts St. Jude patient families at games and events, and their coaches and players frequently visit the St. Jude campus to provide patients a well-deserved distraction from the rigors of treatment. The team serves as the NBA hosts and its players are prominent ambassadors within the NBA’s league-wide “Hoops for St. Jude Week,” which raises awareness and funds for the hospital each spring.

“Memphis and St. Jude are fortunate to have a marquee sports franchise like the Memphis Grizzlies that attracts national attention to our city and to our lifesaving mission, and is such a positive force in our community,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr. CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The Grizzlies have been a true partner to St. Jude, supporting us in ways well beyond their generous financial contributions. The awareness they’ve helped bring to our mission is invaluable, and we are grateful for their incredible partnership.”

To celebrate the Grizzlies’ extension of the longstanding commitment, St. Jude is naming the basketball court adjacent to the newly-named Tri-Delta Place in honor of the team. Plans also include refreshing and adding permanent signage to the court. The Grizzlies will also be represented within the hospital on a wall reserved to honor the many corporate partners whose support helps St. Jude find cures and save children.

“Our partnership is about supporting St. Jude’s mission. We couldn’t be more pleased to renew our partnership with them for another 10 years and work collaboratively on new and innovative ways to fundraise,” Grizzlies COO Jason Wexler said. “Our charge is to harness the power of sport to transform lives and we are proud to pass the torch to Tri-Delta fraternity and walk hand-in-hand with them in our common commitment to St. Jude.” 

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened 50 years ago, and St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. Best of all, support from the Grizzlies and others help ensure that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Visit us online or follow St. Jude on Facebook and Twitter.

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Grizzlies extend partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®

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<a href="https://fedexforum.com/arena-policy-updates" target="_blank">CLEAR BAGS ONLY: FEDEXFORUM NOW REQUIRES CLEAR BAGS FOR ALL GAMES &amp; EVENTS!</a>