Grizzlies fire Taylor Jenkins with one week left until the playoffs

[Tetsujin]

The Grizzlies parted ways with assistant coaches Noah LaRoche and Patrick St. Andrews along with head coach Taylor Jenkins, sources told @ShamsCharania and me.

LaRoche had a major influence on Memphis’ shift in offensive philosophy this season.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 28, 2025

 

[HndsmCelt]

Wow. Why now? It just seems strange to give up on the season like this when you're tied for the 4th seed in the notoriously brutal Western Conference. This feels like a front office power play of some kind. It would be harder to justify firing Jenkins in the off-season if the Grizzlies were to make noise in the playoffs.

I'm not necessarily interested in a Jenkins hire for the Kings, but I suppose it's another name to consider if the Kings do a proper head coaching search in the off-season.

I suspect it is something not basketball related

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

So should we be expecting Mike Malone and Steve Kerr to blast the Grizz front office, or do they only hold vitriol for Sacramento?

No, I wouldn't. Malone didn't work for the Memphis Grizzlies and Jenkins didn't work with Steve Kerr as the lead assistant

 

[Tetsujin]

REPORT: Ja Morant ‘complained’ about Taylor Jenkins’ new offensive scheme.

“Some days he looks like he’s ready to play, and some days he looks like he doesn’t want to be there… because he hates the offense.”

(via @sam_amick, @joevardon, @FredKatz) pic.twitter.com/WHWT3wSeQo

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 29, 2025

 

[Tetsujin]

Zach Kleiman spoke for 2 minutes and 40 seconds this morning.

He said multiple times, “This decision was mine and mine only.”

He didn’t want to talk big picture. When asked about the future of the head coaching spot, he said the focus is on the Lakers tonight.

— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) March 29, 2025

I feel like this is what someone says when it wasn’t their decision alone lol

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1905980456790806632

 

[Kingz19]

Morant reportedly not liking the offense and if that has anything to do with the firing, then that changes some of the theories about Jenkins possibly being a casualty of the elevation of a genius offense assistant coach.

Memphis has had one of the best most balanced offensives in the NBA. As well as being different.

We’ll see if there’s changes to the offense and they prioritize Morants ego more.

it could just be Ja trying to work the interim coach

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1906113056318652677

Breaking: Coaches speak out against coaches losing their jobs lol

 

[iowamcnabb]

Morant reportedly not liking the offense and if that has anything to do with the firing, then that changes some of the theories about Jenkins possibly being a casualty of the elevation of a genius offense assistant coach.

Memphis has had one of the best most balanced offensives in the NBA. As well as being different.

We’ll see if there’s changes to the offense and they prioritize Morants ego more.

it could just be Ja trying to work the interim coach

That would be weird considering the offense is supposedly the current interim coaches. Who knows what they are doing over there

 

[kingsboi]

not sure what type of coaching style Jenkins has, but his teams kept consistently winning in his tenure. Whatever team hires him next I will be keeping an eye out and see how he changes team culture

 

[24 rick barry]

not sure what type of coaching style Jenkins has, but his teams kept consistently winning in his tenure. Whatever team hires him next I will be keeping an eye out and see how he changes team culture

This guy can coach. Winning.

 

[kingsboi]

This guy can coach. Winning.

what type of schemes does he run?

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

what type of schemes does he run?

You should ask Ja Morant that question.

 

[megapoxy]

what type of schemes does he run?

The one where no screens take place. But I read that it was LaRoche that had this tactic and not the one getting the interim head coach position.
Iisalo did miracles in Europe wherever he was especially last season in Paris that continues to do well with Tiago Splitter now as the head coach.

 

[kingsboi]

The one where no screens take place. But I read that it was LaRoche that had this tactic and not the one getting the interim head coach position.
Iisalo did miracles in Europe wherever he was especially last season in Paris that continues to do well with Tiago Splitter now as the head coach.

so a Warriors type of scheme, lots of off ball movement and off ball screens to open certain spaces on the court

 

[Warhawk]

so a Warriors type of scheme, lots of off ball movement and off ball screens to open certain spaces on the court

The one where no screens take place. But I read that it was LaRoche that had this tactic and not the one getting the interim head coach position.
Iisalo did miracles in Europe wherever he was especially last season in Paris that continues to do well with Tiago Splitter now as the head coach.

Actually, very little screening, compared to other teams. See about 11 minutes in for number of screens if you are interested. But the whole video is informative.

 

[Kingz19]

The more that comes out about this, the less it appears that Memphis had some grand plan of getting rid of a coach a year too early rather than a year too late…or that they found some genius assistant that they couldn’t wait to promote.

sounds more and more like a selfish “superstar” made Jenkins job untenable regardless of the overall success of the team.

and they haven’t won since but Ja has been averaging 30..so all is good

 

[serbiangoat]

Kings would be insane not to hire him think two years ago they went something like 21-5 (not the exact number something like it) with Tyus Jones as the starting PG when Morrant was hurt than flopped in then playoffs against the Lakers but were injured again heading into the match up