VANCOUVER—Arthur Griffiths admits he has mixed emotions as he watches the Toronto Raptors’ remarkable playoff run.
Like many Canadians, he’s captivated by the stunning shots and gritty performances, but the founding owner of the NBA’s now-defunct Vancouver Grizzlies also wonders what could have been.
“It’s a little bittersweet in the sense that that’s what I’d like our team to be doing if they were still in the league,” Griffiths said. “But frankly, that’s life. ... It makes me smile as well.”
The businessman already owned the Vancouver Canucks when he decided to try to bring an NBA team to Canada’s West Coast.