MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis common supervisor Zach Kleiman mentioned Saturday the choice to fireplace coach Taylor Jenkins with 9 video games remaining within the common season with the franchise firmly within the playoff chase was “mine and mine only” and in the Grizzlies’ best interests.
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Kleiman spoke to reporters after the Grizzlies’ pregame shootaround for Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers — barely 24 hours after Memphis announced firing Jenkins in his sixth season with the Grizzlies. Memphis named Tuomas Iisalo as the interim coach with the Helsinki, Finland, native in his first season coaching in the NBA.
“I came to the conclusion this was in the best interest of the team, and urgency is a core principle of ours so decided to go on with the move,” Kleiman mentioned.
The Memphis GM spoke for lower than three minutes, and no Grizzlies spoke after the shootaround. They will not be out there till later Saturday on the ordinary pregame open locker room session when Iisalo speaks to the media for the primary time in his new position.
Requested if he hopes making this transfer now with the Grizzlies presently fifth within the Western Convention beginning a stretch with eight of the ultimate 9 opponents both playoff golf equipment or contending for a play-in spot helps Memphis salvage the season, Kleiman mentioned he’s centered on how the Grizzlies function. It is nonetheless attainable, not less than mathematically, that Memphis might get again to No. 2 within the West, and it’s extremely unlikely that the Grizzlies will fall into the play-in event vary.
“I’m responsible for everything,” Kleiman mentioned. “I’m responsible for coaching. I’m responsible for the roster. I’m not trying to absolve myself of anything. I’m excited to see what this team can do the rest of the way, but this was the conclusion that I came to that this was in the best interest of the team and we push forward with this group.”
Kleiman mentioned no gamers have been consulted concerning the transfer to fireplace Jenkins. Kleiman helped rent Jenkins in June 2019 after his personal promotion to government vp of basketball operations. The GM additionally didn’t reply a query about what he desires from Memphis’ subsequent coach.
Jenkins had been the fifth longest-tenured coach together with his present membership within the league, behind solely San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Denver’s Michael Malone — all of them having gained NBA titles. On this season with a maturing roster, the Grizzlies’ outcomes in opposition to the NBA’s greatest weren’t good.
The Grizzlies have been 0-4 in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis, shedding these video games by 24, 13, 17 and 21 factors. They’re 3-6 up to now this season in opposition to Houston, Denver and the Lakers, the following three groups forward of them within the West. All season, the Grizzlies have been 33-9 in opposition to groups at or under .500 and 11-20 in opposition to successful golf equipment.
Jenkins, with a profession document of 250-214, was the winningest coach in franchise historical past for a workforce that launched in 1995. He had the longest tenure for a Grizzlies’ coach since Lionel Hollins took over within the 2008-09 season earlier than his contract was not renewed after reaching the Western Finals in 2013 with a 56-26 document.
However Jenkins has been criticized for persevering with to make use of too many gamers at a degree within the schedule when the rotation wanted to be tightened and questioned for his late-game timeouts and different selections. Requested about studies of two-time All-Star Ja Morant’s frustration over the Memphis offense, Kleiman repeated this was his resolution.
Morant, who has missed the final six video games with a left hamstring pressure, now’s listed as questionable for Saturday night time’s sport with the Lakers.
Now Iisalo takes over after coming to the NBA as a Grizzlies assistant for this season, turning into the primary Finnish-born coach within the NBA. Iisalo performed and coached in Europe, together with in 2024 when he was head coach of Paris Basketball, successful the EuroCup and honors as that league’s coach of the yr. He additionally coached Telekom Baskets Bonn between 2021-23 and Crailshem Merlins between 2016 and 2021.
“Looking forward to seeing what he’s able to do with this group,” Kleiman mentioned of Iisalo. “There’s realistic expectations. There’s not going to be time to install a bunch of things this time of year. My expectations are clarity of direction and we’ll see what we can do, we’ll see what we can execute.”
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