The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of many higher tales of the NBA season. Coming off a 27-win season stricken by accidents, Memphis roared again into the Western Convention playoff image with Ja Morant again within the lineup and Jaren Jackson Jr. enjoying at an All-NBA stage. The Grizzlies have been monitoring because the No. 2 seed within the West as just lately because the All-Star break, however out of the blue the franchise has introduced a surprising shakeup weeks earlier than the beginning of the playoffs.
The Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday afternoon. Jenkins had been Memphis’ coach since 2019, and was on the verge of main the franchise to his third 50+ win season. Memphis’ lead govt Zack Kleinman launched this assertion, calling it a “tough resolution.”
The Grizzlies are 8-11 after the All-Star break to this point. If the season ended right now, Memphis could be the No. 5 seed within the 2025 NBA Playoffs in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s simple to marvel if there’s extra to this story, as a result of it doesn’t make a lot sense from a basketball perspective with 9 video games left to go within the common season. Jenkins helped remake the Grizzlies’ offense to be less reliant on pick-and-rolls, and it produced some beautiful basketball this season. It is a surprising resolution.
A lot of Jenkins’ workers was additionally let go. This looks like a vote in opposition to the Grizzlies’ new offense this yr:
The Grizzlies parted methods with assistant coaches Noah LaRoche and Patrick St. Andrews together with head coach Taylor Jenkins, sources informed @ShamsCharania and me.
LaRoche had a significant affect on Memphis’ shift in offensive philosophy this season.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 28, 2025
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported “Jenkins was known as into the Grizzlies workplace this morning and was fired in individual, sources inform ESPN. Beautiful dismissal.”
The Grizzlies have promoted assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo to interim head coach.
The Memphis Grizzlies are naming assistant Tuomas Iisalo because the interim head coach, sources inform ESPN. Iisalo, a local of Finland, is a former Finnish skilled participant and coach. He was head coach of Paris Basketball in 2024, successful the EuroCup and EuruCup coach of the yr. pic.twitter.com/nKPCdzh7Ms
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 28, 2025
We’ll replace this story because it develops.
