In a significant move, the Memphis Grizzlies have parted ways with Taylor Jenkins, their head coach for the past six seasons. This decision comes as the team faces challenges in maintaining their strong position as the season progresses and risks losing home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Sources close to the situation revealed to ESPN`s Shams Charania that Jenkins was informed of his termination in a meeting at the Grizzlies` office on Friday morning. The organization reportedly felt that Jenkins had lost control of the team`s dynamics, and a coaching change was deemed necessary to potentially improve the team`s performance as they conclude the season.
Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies` general manager, expressed his sentiments in a public statement: `I want to sincerely thank Taylor for his dedication to our team and the Memphis community over the last six years. This was a tough choice, especially considering the consistent growth of our players and the team`s overall success under his guidance. I wish Taylor all the best in his future endeavors.`
It has been announced that lead assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo will take over as interim head coach. Iisalo brings a wealth of experience, having previously excelled as a player and coach in Finland, and recently led Paris Basketball to victory in the EuroCup in 2023-24, earning the Coach of the Year award.
During the previous offseason, the Grizzlies undertook a substantial restructuring of their coaching staff, retaining only Jenkins, Patrick St. Andrews, and Anthony Carter from the 2023-24 season. The introduction of six new assistant coaches, including Iisalo and Noah LaRoche, signaled a shift in the team`s playing philosophy. The focus moved towards a faster tempo and spacing strategies inspired by sports like soccer and hockey. This new offensive approach for Memphis minimized the use of traditional NBA tactics such as pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs.
Sources also indicated to Charania that assistant coaches St. Andrews and LaRoche were also dismissed on Friday.
Jenkins, aged 40, began his tenure with the Grizzlies in the 2019-20 season, coinciding with Ja Morant`s Rookie of the Year award. Under Jenkins, the Grizzlies reached the postseason three times, securing one playoff series victory.
Jenkins Joins Unique Group
Taylor Jenkins`s departure from the Grizzlies marks a rare instance where a coach leaves a team mid-season despite achieving 40 or more wins during that season.
| Coach | Team | Record | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Brown | Nets | 47-29 | `82-83 |
| Taylor Jenkins | Grizz | 44-29 | `24-25 |
| Don Nelson | Mavs | 42-22 | `04-05 |
| — ESPN Research | |||
Memphis has struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. The absence of Morant due to a hamstring strain has contributed to a less impressive 8-11 record since the All-Star break, ranking 21st in the NBA during this period.
The Grizzlies are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. Both teams have an equal record of 44-29 as they enter a challenging phase where eight of Memphis`s remaining nine games are against teams in playoff contention or vying for a play-in tournament spot. While it remains mathematically possible for Memphis to climb back to the second seed in the Western Conference, it is highly improbable they will fall into the play-in range.
Earlier this season, Jenkins surpassed Lionel Hollins to become the coach with the most wins in Grizzlies history. He concludes his time with the team with a 250-214 record (.539), also holding the record for the most games coached in franchise history.
Memphis demonstrated a turnaround this season after a disappointing 27-55 record in 2023-24, which was significantly impacted by Morant`s absence for 73 games due to injury and suspension.
The new tactical system initially showed promise and has been continuously refined as the Grizzlies aimed to solidify their offensive identity before the playoffs. However, defensively, Memphis has experienced difficulties since the All-Star break, dropping to 20th in defensive efficiency after being ranked 7th in the first half of the season, according to ESPN Research.
Furthermore, much of the team`s success this season has been against teams with losing records. Against teams currently above .500, the Grizzlies have an 11-20 record with a point deficit of 77 points. Conversely, against teams at .500 or below, they are 33-9, outscoring opponents by 462 points.
Jenkins had signed a contract extension with the Grizzlies in June 2022. His prior coaching experience includes assistant roles with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-18) and Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19). He was among the longest-tenured coaches with his current team in the league, preceded only by Gregg Popovich of San Antonio, Erik Spoelstra of Miami, Steve Kerr of Golden State, and Michael Malone of Denver—all of whom have won NBA championships.