The Memphis Grizzlies have dismissed Taylor Jenkins, their most victorious coach, on Friday. This decision comes as the team struggles towards the end of the season and faces the risk of losing home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Sources informed ESPN`s Shams Charania that Jenkins was summoned to the Grizzlies` office on Friday morning and informed of his termination. The team reportedly believed that Jenkins had lost control of the locker room throughout the season and that a change was necessary to improve the Grizzlies` end-of-season performance.
`I sincerely appreciate Taylor`s contributions to this team and city over the past six seasons,` stated Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman. `This was a challenging decision, considering the consistent development of our players and overall success under Taylor`s leadership. I wish Taylor all the best in the future.`
Lead assistant Tuomas Iisalo will take over as interim head coach, the team announced later on Friday. Iisalo, a former Finnish professional player and coach, previously coached Paris Basketball in 2023-24, leading them to a EuroCup victory and earning coach of the year honors.
The Grizzlies significantly restructured their coaching staff last offseason, retaining only Jenkins, Patrick St. Andrews, and Anthony Carter from 2023-24. With the addition of six new assistants, the Grizzlies shifted their playing style under Iisalo and Noah LaRoche to emphasize a fast pace and spacing principles borrowed from sports like soccer and hockey. Memphis`s new offensive approach largely eliminated traditional NBA tactics like pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs.
Sources also told Charania that St. Andrews and LaRoche were also dismissed on Friday.
Jenkins, 40, had been the Grizzlies coach since 2019-20, the same season Ja Morant was named Rookie of the Year. Under Jenkins, the Grizzlies reached the postseason three times, securing one playoff series win.
Memphis has lost four of their last five games, with Morant sidelined due to a strained hamstring, and has a record of 8-11 since the All-Star break, ranking 21st in the NBA during that period.
The Grizzlies are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, with both teams holding identical 44-29 records. This game marks the start of a stretch where eight of Memphis`s final nine opponents are either playoff teams or contenders for a play-in spot. While it remains mathematically possible for Memphis to regain the No. 2 seed in the West, it is highly improbable they will fall into the play-in tournament range.
Earlier this season, Jenkins surpassed Lionel Hollins to become the coach with the most wins in Grizzlies history. He departs with a 250-214 record (.539), having also coached the most games in the franchise`s history.
Memphis had shown significant improvement this season after a 27-55 campaign in 2023-24, which was largely impacted by Morant`s absence for 73 games due to injury and suspension.
The new system displayed promising signs earlier in the season and has been continuously refined as the Grizzlies aimed to establish a clear offensive identity before the playoffs. However, defensively, Memphis has struggled since the All-Star break, ranking 20th in defensive efficiency after holding the No. 7 position in the first half of the season, according to ESPN Research.
Furthermore, much of their success this season has been against teams with losing records. Against the 13 teams currently above .500, the Grizzlies are 11-20 with a negative point differential of 77 points. In contrast, against the 16 teams at .500 or below, they are 33-9, outscoring these opponents by 462 points.
Jenkins signed a multiyear contract extension with the Grizzlies in June 2022. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-18) and Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19). He was the fifth-longest-tenured coach with his current team in the league, only behind 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.
