Fansided

Every NBA team’s most famous fan

By Dylan Hughes

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: American actor Jack Nicholson attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves with his son Ray Nicholson at Staples Center on April 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: American actor Jack Nicholson attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves with his son Ray Nicholson at Staples Center on April 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 7: Justin Timberlake during the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat on December 7, 2014 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 7: Justin Timberlake during the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat on December 7, 2014 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Memphis Grizzlies — Justin Timberlake

Two commonalities are coming together here from previously named super-celebrity-fans: Timberlake is both a former member of a boy band and a minority owner. A Memphis native, Timberlake joined a group including former Tennessee Volunteer Peyton Manning to buy a minority stake in the Grizzlies back in 2012 and still holds his share today.

Timberlake doesn’t make too many appearances and doesn’t talk about the Grizzlies much in general, kind of like Usher with the Cavaliers. But when he gets involved, he makes a show out of it.

In a conversation with ESPN, Timberlake talked about why he bought into the Grizzlies.

“That’s my hometown and that’s where I keep my residence, my home. My first conversation with our majority owner Robert Pera was, ‘I’m happy to do this and I’m honored to do this because I put on for my city, but you have to keep the team here.’”

Timberlake is clearly deeply embedded in Memphis and he bought into the Grizzlies because they were part of his city’s fabric. He bought in on the condition that the team would remain in Memphis.

Back in 2014, Timberlake was sitting courtside at a Heat-Grizzlies game and wanted to get behind the camera.

Timberlake can get down to business when it matters, however. When Mike Conley was a free agent in 2016, Timberlake took part in a mini-film dedicated to Conley titled “Our Conductor.”

Conley ended up re-signing on a five-year deal.

Timberlake getting in on pitches like this could continue to help bring back players and perhaps even attract outside talent in the future. After all, Timberlake not only has money tied up in the Grizzlies — he has the pride of his city to worry about as well.

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