MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a groundbreaking development for the NBA, Tuomas Iisalo has been appointed as the permanent head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. Announced on Friday, this makes Iisalo the first Finnish-born coach to take charge of an NBA team. Although the team kept the specifics of his contract under wraps, Iisalo has taken the helm after starting off the season as the Grizzlies’ lead assistant coach.
Iisalo stepped into the role of interim head coach on March 28, following a disappointing five-game losing streak on the road, which concluded with a loss at Oklahoma City. This led to the dismissal of Taylor Jenkins, the most successful coach in Grizzlies history in terms of wins.
Speaking on the appointment, Grizzlies president Zach Kleiman expressed strong trust in Iisalo’s abilities. “I have full confidence in Tuomas serving as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies going forward,” Kleiman said in a statement. “Tuomas’ teams at every level have been disciplined, tenacious, and connected on both ends of the floor, consistently exceeding expectations. We look forward to the same in Memphis.”
Iisalo, a native of Finland, led the team to a 4-5 finish in the last nine games of the regular season. Despite making it to the play-in tournament and securing the eighth seed, the Grizzlies were unable to topple Oklahoma City, resulting in a season-ending loss.
Faced with a daunting schedule and minimal time for overhauls, Iisalo faced significant challenges. “We had 15 games and two practices, and I tried to do my best in those,” he shared following the team’s elimination. Addressing the tight timeline, he noted, “That’s a ratio that makes it very difficult. We were in a situation that there were no drastic changes that we needed to make or could be made in that situation.”
Before joining the Grizzlies, Iisalo had a successful stint as the head coach of Paris Basketball, where he led the team to a EuroCup championship and garnered the EuroCup Coach of the Year award. His coaching career also includes five successful seasons with Crailsheim Merlins in Germany. Prior to coaching, Iisalo enjoyed a 14-season professional playing career in Finland.
Iisalo’s brief tenure as interim head coach received positive feedback from key players like Ja Morant. “I feel like Tuomas is a good coach,” Morant remarked during the team’s exit interviews. “Going into my film sessions with him, I saw and heard that he sees the same thing I see out there on the floor. It’s been exciting.”
During his postseason exit interview, Iisalo emphasized the importance of aligning the team with the city’s ethos. “Every club and every city has their own culture,” he said. “I think it is very important that you are true to the roots of that city. This city is a hard-working city. The club has roots in that. It has to be based on giving everything you have. I’ve always believed in that.”