Grizzlies GM takes sole responsibility for firing Taylor Jenkins - ESPN

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Grizzlies general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman took sole responsibility for the surprise firing of coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday.

«I came to the conclusion that this is in the best interest of the team, and urgency is a core principle of ours, so decided to go on with the move,» Kleiman said Saturday, speaking publicly for the first time since Jenkins' dismissal while his team had shootaround in preparation for its game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kleiman said he did not speak to anyone on the roster before letting Jenkins go.

«The players were not consulted on this decision,» Kleiman said. «This decision is mine and mine only.»

Jenkins, 40, coached Memphis to a 250-214 record (.539) in nearly six full seasons and a 44-29 record this season — No. 5 in the Western Conference with nine games remaining in the regular season.

But the Grizzlies had lost four of their past five by an average margin of 16.8 points and had gone 8-12 in their past 20 games.

Kleiman, 37, was elevated to his current role in charge of the Memphis front office in April 2019. Jenkins was hired two months later after six seasons as an assistant coach in Atlanta and Milwaukee under Mike Budenholzer.

The general manager said Jenkins «leaves the team in a much better position than when he started» but would not address what prompted him to fire the coach at this juncture of the season.

«In this case, I am going to leave it that I of course gave this real thought and came to the conclusion that this is in the best interest of our team going forward,» Kleiman said.

Tuomas Iisalo, named the 2024 EuroCup Coach of the Year for his work leading Paris Basketball, was named the Grizzlies' interim