Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins has been relieved of his duties, the team announced in a statement released Friday, March 28.
“I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons,” said Grizzlies President and General Manager of Basketball Operations Zach Kleiman. “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.”
The decision to part ways with Jenkins comes amid a slump for the team, which is currently 5-5 in its last 10 games. It also comes with the playoffs approaching. The postseason begins with the play-in tournament on April 15.
Memphis is tied for fourth place in the Western Conference standings with the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams hold a 44-29 record.
The Grizzlies have faced a tough second half to the season. Heading into the All-Star break, their record stood at 38-15. Since then, the team has posted a 6-11 record. Injuries have played a part, with Ja Morant missing 30 games due to various injuries. The injury bug has recently affected other key players. All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama have also missed time with injuries.
Memphis also has one of the youngest rosters in the league, with an average age of 24.3 years across the 15-man roster. The starting five features rookie first-round pick Zach Edey and second-round steal Jaylen Wells.
Jenkins was hired in the offseason of 2019, succeeding former head coach JB Bickerstaff. During his six years as head coach, he became the franchise’s winningest coach with a 464-250 record. His best season came in 2021-22, when Memphis won the Southwest Division with a 56-26 record before losing in the conference semifinals.
Before joining Memphis, Jenkins was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks. The 40-year-old is expected to be a top candidate for head coaching vacancies in the offseason.
Tuomas Iisalo will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, after beginning the year as an assistant. He has coached professionally in Europe since 2014, including a stint as head coach of Paris Basketball, leading the team to significant achievements, including winning the EuroCup title in 2024.
