Grizzlies fire head coach Taylor Jenkins in shocking move as Memphis holds fifth seed in conference

The Memphis Grizzlies fired caput manager Taylor Jenkins contempt being the No. 5 effect successful the Western Conference connected Friday. The Grizzlies’ shocking determination to portion ways with Jenkins comes with conscionable 9 regular-season games earlier the NBA playoffs begin. 

"I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this squad and this metropolis implicit the past six seasons," said Grizzlies president and wide manager of hoops operations Zach Kleiman successful a connection posted to societal media.

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New Orleans Pelicans caput manager Taylor Jenkins looks connected against the New Orleans Pelicans during the archetypal fractional astatine Smoothie King Center connected March 9, 2025.  (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

"This was a hard decision, fixed the accordant and tangible improvement of our players and wide occurrence nether Taylor’s leadership. I privation Taylor the precise champion going forward."

The Grizzlies are 44-29 and, portion they person the aforesaid grounds arsenic the Los Angeles Lakers, the Lakers clasp the head-to-head tiebreaker. With the tiebreaker, the Lakers are 4th successful the standings implicit the Grizzlies. 

The determination to occurrence Jenkins comes connected the heels of a 125-104 nonaccomplishment to the top-seeded squad successful the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

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Memphis Grizzlies caput manager Taylor Jenkins watches his squad play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2nd fractional astatine Paycom Center connected March 27, 2025.  (Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)

The Grizzlies are 5-5 successful their past 10 games, arsenic they volition proceed to jockey for playoff positioning with the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers and Warriors are 41-31 portion the Timberwolves are 41-32.

Jenkins, 40, was hired successful 2019 and was 250-214 successful his Grizzlies tenure. Jenkins' 250 wins are the astir coaching wins successful franchise history. 

Last season, the squad struggled, going 27-55 arsenic prima constituent defender Ja Morant lone played successful 9 games owed to wounded and suspension. 

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Memphis Grizzlies caput manager Taylor Jenkins watches his squad play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2nd fractional astatine Paycom Center connected March 27, 2025.  (Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)

With Morant backmost successful the fold, the Grizzlies improved this play and, barring a disastrous last 9 games, volition marque the playoffs. 

As of the clip of this writing, an interim caput manager had not yet been named. 

The Grizzlies’ adjacent crippled is against the Lakers astatine home, connected Saturday astatine 8:00 p.m. ET, wherever they volition instrumentality the level for a pivotal crippled with a antithetic coach. 

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