The Memphis Grizzlies have made a significant change, dismissing Taylor Jenkins, their most successful head coach to date, amid the team’s late-season struggles which threaten their playoff positioning. Sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies made the bold decision to part ways with Jenkins and announced that assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Iisalo, a Finnish native, made history as the first person from Finland to become an NBA coach. Prior to joining the NBA, he forged a successful career in Europe, including leading Paris Basketball to a EuroCup victory in 2024 and earning coach of the year honors. His coaching journey also included stints with Telekom Baskets Bonn and Crailshem Merlins.
Jenkins’ tenure with the Grizzlies lasted six seasons. His dismissal came as the team braced for a challenging home stint with games against elite teams like the Lakers, Celtics, and Warriors—all within a few days. Memphis faces the daunting task of battling eight playoff-bound or playoff-hopeful teams to close the season. Despite the difficulties, there’s still an outside chance for the team to climb back to the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
Grizzlies President and General Manager Zach Kleiman acknowledged the decision was tough, praising Jenkins for his leadership and the growth he facilitated within the team. The team made no immediate plans for media engagement following the announcement of Jenkins’ release.
Jenkins was amongst the longest-tenured coaches on a team, standing alongside accomplished names like Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra. However, this season’s poor performance against top-tier teams didn’t favor Jenkins’ future with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies faced a 0-4 losing streak against the Oklahoma City Thunder, suffering significant losses, and have struggled against teams like Houston, Denver, and the Lakers, who are key competitors in the Western Conference. While Memphis performed exceptionally against teams below .500, their record against winning teams was less than impressive, at 11-20.
Jenkins concluded his time with the Grizzlies holding a career record of 250-214 and passing Lionel Hollins for the most wins in the Grizzlies’ history. Jenkins ushered Memphis to the playoffs thrice but managed to reach the second round only once. His most successful season was 2021-22, culminating in a 56-win season and a Southwest Division title.
Jenkins came into his role after J.B. Bickerstaff was let go. He had previously worked under Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks and also had ties to the San Antonio Spurs through their G League team.
The transition period in Memphis coincided with the drafting of Ja Morant, who has also faced challenges with injuries but remains a cornerstone of the team’s strategy. The latest season was challenging with Morant limited to nine games due to suspension and an injury, and key players like Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke also absent due to injuries.
Despite these challenges, Jenkins overhauled his coaching strategy this season to emphasize spacing in their offense. Although they faced turnover problems, Memphis maintained a strong position in the conference for much of the season until recent setbacks dropped them to fifth place.
This ongoing season saw Jenkins manage through further lineup issues with Morant missing multiple games due to a hamstring strain. These circumstances contribute to the dynamic season for the Grizzlies and a significant change at the coaching helm with Jenkins’ departure.