In a surprising move, the Memphis Grizzlies announced on Friday the dismissal of head coach Taylor Jenkins with just nine games remaining in the regular season and a likely playoff appearance ahead.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jenkins was informed of his firing in person on Friday morning. The 40-year-old coach had led Memphis since 2019, guiding the team through six seasons.
Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating, "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."
Jenkins' dismissal is particularly unexpected given the Grizzlies' strong season. Memphis currently holds a 44-29 record, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings—tied with the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in a competitive race. With a playoff spot highly likely, the decision to part ways with Jenkins raises questions.
Since his hiring in 2019, Jenkins played a key role in the team's rise. He led Memphis to the second-best record in the West in both his third and fourth seasons and helped secure the franchise’s first playoff series win in seven years in 2021. Under his leadership, Ja Morant developed from a rookie into a two-time All-Star.
After a challenging 2024 season, Memphis rebounded impressively in 2025, ranking second in the NBA in both points and rebounds per game while maintaining one of the league’s fastest paces.
Before his tenure with the Grizzlies, Jenkins served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons and spent five years with the Atlanta Hawks. Given his track record, he is expected to be a top candidate for head coaching positions around the NBA this offseason.