Grizzlies fire coach Taylor Jenkins despite 44-29 record

Audio By Carbonatix

Enlarge

The Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday despite the club’s 44-29 record.

The Grizzlies entered the day tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the fifth-best record in the Western Conference.

Jenkins, 40, is the winningest coach in franchise history with a 250-214 record with three playoff appearances since being hired in June 2019.

“I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons,” Grizzlies president and general manager Zach Kleiman said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision, given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership. I wish Taylor the very best going forward.”

Per ESPN, the Grizzlies are naming assistant Tuomas Iisalo as the team’s interim head coach. He joined the Grizzlies after serving as the head coach of Paris Basketball in 2024, and he was named the coach of the year in his native Finland.

Memphis turned things around this season after a 27-55 campaign in 2023-24, which was marred by the absence of star guard Ja Morant for 73 games due to injury and suspension.

The Grizzlies are coming off a 125-104 loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday night, extending a slump that has seen them drop five of their past seven games. Memphis is just 8-11 since the All-Star break.

Jenkins signed a multi-year contract extension with the Grizzlies in June 2022. He previously worked as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19) and Atlanta Hawks (2013-18).

Lionel Hollins held the previous franchise record with 214 coaching wins.

The Grizzlies host the Lakers in a crucial Western Conference game on Saturday.

–Field Level Media