Grizzlies Shockingly Part Ways with Taylor Jenkins Ahead of Playoffs

The Memphis Grizzlies shockingly fired head coach Taylor Jenkins with just nine games left in the regular season. Despite leading the team to a 44-29 record and sitting fifth in the Western Conference, the organization decided to make a change, leaving many fans and analysts scratching their heads.

Jenkins, who took over in 2019, is the winningest coach in franchise history, guiding Memphis to three straight playoff appearances. He helped develop young stars and built a team that consistently competed in the West. Grizzlies President Zach Kleiman called the decision “difficult” but didn’t offer many details on why the move was made so abruptly in towards the end of a successful regular season.

The team has struggled since the All-Star break, going 8-11, and recently finished a rough road trip with a 1-4 record. Internal issues may have played a role, but Memphis has not publicly addressed any behind-the-scenes conflicts.

Assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo has been named interim head coach. Iisalo has international coaching experience, but stepping into this role so close to the playoffs is a tall task.

Now, the Grizzlies must regroup and focus on making a deep playoff run under new leadership. With the postseason just around the corner, Memphis doesn’t have much time to adjust. Whether this move sparks the team or disrupts their momentum remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the Grizzlies are taking a huge gamble by making this change so late in the season.