Taylor Jenkins has been the coach of the Memphis Grizzlies since 2019. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im via Getty Images)
In a stunning move, the Memphis Grizzlies announced on Friday they have fired head coach Taylor Jenkins. The Grizzlies made the decision to dismiss Jenkins with nine games left in the regular season, and the playoffs likely beyond that.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jenkins was fired in person Friday morning. The 40-year-old coach has spent the past six seasons as Memphis’ head coach, joining the Grizzlies’ staff in 2019.
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In a statement, Memphis GM Zach Kleiman said, “I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons. 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.”
On the surface, Jenkins’ dismissal is odd given Memphis’ season so far. The Grizzlies are currently 44-29 and sit in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. Memphis’ record is tied with the fourth-place Los Angeles Lakers in a very tight conference battle. While not secured, a playoff berth — a non-play-in one at that — is incredibly likely.
After being hired in 2019, Jenkins led the Grizzlies to the second-best record in the West in his third and fourth seasons as head coach; in 2021, Memphis won a playoff series for the first time in seven years. Jenkins has coached star Grizzlies guard Ja Morant from a rookie to a two-time All-Star.
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Memphis followed up a forgettable 2024 with a strong 2025 season: The Grizzlies are currently second in the NBA in points per game and rebounds per game, and are one of the fastest teams in the league.
Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Jenkins spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and five years as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks before that. He is likely to be a top candidate for any head coaching vacancies across the NBA this offseason.
