Memphis Grizzlies Fire Coach Taylor Jenkins Amid Playoff Push
The Memphis Grizzlies have decided to part ways with Taylor Jenkins, their most successful coach in franchise history, despite still holding the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. The move comes as the team struggles late in the season, jeopardizing their home-court advantage for the playoffs. The Grizzlies have yet to announce an interim coach.
Jenkins had been at the helm for six seasons, but his dismissal comes just before a critical stretch of home games against the Lakers, Celtics, and Warriors. With eight of their final nine opponents either playoff-bound or competing for a play-in spot, Memphis still has a mathematical chance to climb higher in the standings, though slipping into play-in contention seems unlikely.
Grizzlies’ Management Cites Need for Change
Zach Kleiman, the team’s president and GM, acknowledged the difficulty of firing Jenkins, given the development of players and the team’s overall success under his leadership. The team canceled Friday’s practice and media availability following the decision.
Jenkins was among the league’s longest-tenured coaches, trailing only Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, Steve Kerr, and Michael Malone—all NBA championship winners.
Memphis’ Struggles Against Top Teams
One of the key issues for Jenkins this season has been the Grizzlies’ poor performance against strong competition. They lost all four matchups against Oklahoma City by significant margins and have struggled against Western Conference contenders like Houston, Denver, and the Lakers.
While they dominated weaker teams with a 33-9 record, outscoring those opponents by 462 points, they fared poorly against winning teams, going 11-20 and getting outscored by 77 points.
Jenkins’ Legacy in Memphis
Jenkins departs with a 250-214 career record, surpassing Lionel Hollins for the most wins in franchise history. He also coached the most games for the Grizzlies since the team’s inception in 1995.
Under his leadership, Memphis made the playoffs three times, advancing past the first round only once. Their best run came in the 2021-22 season when they won 56 games, finished as the No. 2 seed, and defeated Minnesota before falling to Golden State.
Before taking the Memphis job, Jenkins was an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee and Atlanta. He also coached the Spurs’ G League team in Austin.
Injury-Plagued Seasons Led to Challenges
Jenkins took over as head coach the same year Memphis drafted Ja Morant in 2019, helping the team reach the postseason for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. However, the 2023-24 season was riddled with injuries and setbacks.
Morant played just nine games due to a 25-game suspension and a shoulder injury, while key players like Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke also missed significant time. The result was a disappointing 27-55 season.
This season, Jenkins revamped his coaching staff and implemented a new offensive system focused on spacing. However, frequent injuries—particularly Morant missing 43 games—led to inconsistent performances. After spending much of the season near the top of the West, the Grizzlies’ struggles pushed them down to fifth place.
Ultimately, Memphis felt a coaching change was necessary as they look ahead to a tough playoff race.
