Breaking News: Taylor Jenkins Out as Memphis Grizzlies’ Head Coach

Memphis Grizzlies Fire Taylor Jenkins in Shocking Move With Playoffs Looming

In a stunning and abrupt move, the Memphis Grizzlies have fired head coach Taylor Jenkins despite a 44-29 record and a secure playoff spot in the Western Conference. The decision, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, came Friday morning after Jenkins was called into the team facility and let go in person.

The dismissal is especially surprising considering the timing: Memphis has just nine regular-season games remaining and is in a heated battle for first-round home-court advantage.

Jenkins leaves with a 250-214 regular season record over six seasons—the most wins by any coach in franchise history. He helped develop the team’s young core, guided them to three playoff appearances, and led the Grizzlies to back-to-back division titles in 2022 and 2023.

What’s Behind the Decision?

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the move may not be entirely performance-related. Memphis already overhauled Jenkins’ coaching staff last offseason, raising eyebrows around the league. The fact that the organization would pull the plug this close to the postseason has left many around the NBA stunned.

“Memphis changed out virtually all of Taylor Jenkins’ coaching staff after last season, which raised eyebrows across the league,” Fischer tweeted. “But to make this decision on the Grizzlies’ bench right now… a truly surprising development.”

There’s no clear indication of a rift between Jenkins and his players—if anything, sideline interactions have suggested the opposite. But the front office may have simply decided they no longer shared the same vision with Jenkins, despite the team’s turnaround from last season’s 27-55 campaign.

On-Court Success Not Enough

The Grizzlies have been one of the league’s most resilient teams this year, despite injuries only allowing Morant to play 43 games so far. Jaren Jackson Jr. is having the best season of his career (22.4 PPG), Desmond Bane has taken another step forward, and rookies Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells have become valuable contributors.

Still, Memphis had lost four of five games before the firing, including a pair of 20-point defeats to the Thunder. Whether that recent stretch played any role in the decision remains unclear. The Grizzlies had fallen to 12th in FTN’s Power Rankings.

What’s Next?

Jenkins is expected to be one of the most sought-after names on the upcoming coaching market. A former assistant under Mike Budenholzer, Jenkins is respected league-wide for his player development and tactical acumen.

As for Memphis, they’ll now try to navigate a playoff run without the coach who built their foundation, just nine games from the postseason.