The Memphis Grizzlies have fired head coach Taylor Jenkins, their most-winning coach in franchise history, despite currently sitting fifth in the Western Conference. The decision comes as the team faces a tough stretch of games that includes matchups against playoff contenders. Jenkins, who was the fifth-longest-tenured coach in the league, had led the Grizzlies for six seasons and achieved a record of 250-214. He guided the team to the playoffs three times but only made it past the first round once.
The Grizzlies’ performance against top teams this season was disappointing, with a poor record against clubs above .500. In contrast, they excelled against lower-ranked teams. Memphis announced assistant coach Tuomas Isalo as their interim head coach. Isalo, the first Finnish-born coach in the NBA, had previously been the lead assistant under Jenkins. The decision for change was made by the Grizzlies’ president and general manager, Zach Kleiman, as the team’s recent struggles shifted their standing in the playoff race.
Jenkins had taken over in 2019, coinciding with the drafting of star player Ja Morant, and helped the franchise to its best season in the 2021-22 campaign with 56 wins. However, injuries plagued the team this season, impacting their performance and overall record, ultimately leading to Jenkins’ dismissal.
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