In a surprising move, the Memphis Grizzlies have dismissed head coach Taylor Jenkins. This announcement comes with only nine games remaining in the regular season, and the team currently holds fifth in the Western Conference. According to ESPN reports, assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo will take over as interim head coach.
Grizzlies president Zach Kleiman acknowledged Jenkins` contributions over the past six seasons to both the team and the city. Kleiman stated that this was a challenging decision, especially considering the team`s consistent player development and overall success under Jenkins. He wished Jenkins well in his future endeavors.
Jenkins had been the Grizzlies` head coach since the 2019-2020 season, achieving a franchise-best record of 250 wins and 214 losses. He led Memphis to the playoffs three times and is the longest-tenured coach without a championship among current coaches, surpassed only by Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, and Michael Malone in terms of tenure with their respective teams.
During Jenkins` tenure, the Grizzlies missed the playoffs twice, with last year`s absence largely attributed to Ja Morant`s season-ending injury and injuries to other important players.
This season, the team showed improvement, reaching as high as second in the West. However, Memphis` recent performance has declined, with a 2-4 record in their last six games. A sideline incident also occurred involving Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama. Despite these issues, firing a successful coach just before the playoffs seems unexpected.
The reasons behind Jenkins` dismissal are not yet fully clear, but more information is expected soon. Memphis will finish the season with an interim head coach who has not yet been identified.
