Jeknins was there from 2019-2024. Taking over after Fizdale (and interim Bickerstaff). Looking at the Jenkins tree, in particular, the assistants who GM Zach Kleiman replaced before start of this season. For the number of years most of these assistants were Jenkins' people and there for almost all his Grizz tenure. 1. Repleacement included sports trainer: Pete Elliott -> Eruc Oetter 2. Assistant coaches (fired last season) ----------------------------------- Blake Ahearn (4yrs with Grizz) Brad Jones (6yrs with Grizz) was with their G-league Memphis Hustle before becoming assistant David McClure (6yrs with Grizz) younger dude (late 30's), was a Pacers assistant prior James Penn (6yrs with Grizz) former American player, who played in Europe. First assistant job Two landed with WNBA/MNBA jobs Sonia Raman (5yrs with Grizz) after Grizz, landed as an assistant with the Liberty. Vitaly Potapenko (7yrs with Grizz), landed as assistant with Pistons Honorable mention (left 2 seasons prior, 2020-2023) Darko Rajakovic - became Raptors head coach Darko the most successful of the bunch. Based on the new tweet J.R. shared, they got rid of the Noah LaRoche the euro assistant that tried to speed stuff up, which it sounded like forced Jenkin's hand and Grizz players didn't take a liking to. ----- Taylor will land on his feet. I'd love to have him as an asisstant here, but I'm guessing he'll just hold off for a head coaching gig.
The Ringer has its take: https://www.theringer.com/2025/03/28/nba/taylor-jenkins-fired-memphis-grizzlies
“I feel for him. But that’s what happens when you blame yourself too often in Post-Game Interviews” — Ime Udoka
Think there is any chance we could bring him on as a special assistant on offense for the playoffs ? maybe put him over calling plays out of a timeout and handling challenges ?
i was about to say the same. he might have lost control of the locker room but then they're sitting in 5th in the western conference. this firing makes 0 sense.
I'm dumbfounded. I mean truly dumbfounded, especially this late in the season. Honestly this is one of the biggest surprises of the entire season. Welp I wouldn't mind getting the Grizzlies in the first round. There's no way to build cohesion this late.
Um given Ja's legal problems how are you not questioning Jenkins leadership? Grizzlies GM on the hotseat?
Why did KPJ's problems reflect Stone & Silas? Remember you guys wanting both fired because of poor culture. Do the same rules not apply?
After a March 5 loss against the Thunder, a clearly frustrated Ja Morant said that he shouldn’t have played. While it’s unclear if the competitive star pushed to play against the NBA’s top team, or if the Grizzlies made the call, multiple sources have noted Morant’s frustrations this season, with another saying he believes the team was pushing him to play when he wasn’t ready. Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal
On the things with Ja, the rumblings had been that the FO wanted Ja to play through some of his injuries this year, which it seemed like he wasn't entirely comfortable. I put that less on Jenkins, than the org's frustration as they fear the lack of wins against good teams and a 1st round exit. On the basketball side of things. Grizz offensive efficiency did go up in 1st half of season when they had easier opponents. Rockets fans probably remember when we swapped the #2 spot in the west with them. Offense: higher pace, lot of dribble drives and 3's. The credit was tied to LaRoche the assistant. But it didn't work well on the better teams and some players didn't like the system. We saw LaRoche also got fired Patrick St.Andrews was their defensive coordinator (2 seasons) fired along with Jenkins (6 seasons and LaRoche (1 season). The suspected reason cited is the defensive slip (first time in a long time under Jenkin's tenure.). From Rockets side of things, I think some of it is losing Dillon and Adams. Players who talked defensively on the court and communications. Marcus Smart didn't pan out, plus their injuries, combined with Patrick St Andres, the new defense coach, Grizz slipped to a middle of the pack defense (13th - 20th range). Back to Ja, the LaRoche 's system wasn't exactly great for him. His numbers have been down, and number of PnR significantly reduced. 2nd half season, LaRoche 's system was showing its cracks. Fans also frustrated the bad use of Edey, who could have thrived with Ja in PnR. The new interim coach: Tumas Iisalo is advertised as a PnR expert. So it's likely Grizz will turn to that more. The timing of the firing was shocking. Until other reasons revealed, based on what's reported, seems to be less on the gun stuff or the Bane pushing his teammate, but more clashes of basketball philosophy between Jenkins vs his new assistants, the players vs new changes, and their GM wanting a different basketball philosophy.
... giving up 10 3s at the beginning(10 mins to go) of the 2nd quarter. thought their new coach was a Euro & NBA wiz
