The Memphis Grizzlies expected Friday to unfold differently. A chance to breathe before battling the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. But when has the NBA ever played by the rules? Never. Chaos always finds a way. This time, it hit harder than expected. The Grizzlies have fired their head coach, Taylor Jenkins. Just like that. No warning, no signs. Who could have seen this coming? Nine games left and a crucial stretch ahead. Yet, on Friday morning, Jenkins was out.
The Grizzlies have shown the door to their most successful coach. Now, with a showdown against the Lakers looming, Memphis stands at No. 5—stunned, shaken, and searching for answers. Undoubtedly, it’s a lot to take in—how a playoff-bound team suddenly chose to part ways with one of the league’s longest-tenured coaches. So, now the question is: who caused this sudden change in plans? Who saw this happening before it actually happened?
The simple answer is general manager Zach Kleiman. Well, he showed up before the media on Saturday morning to give context on the timing of the event. “The decision is mine and mine only,” he confessed. He further noted: “I came to the conclusion that this is in the best interest of the team, and urgency is a core principle of ours, so I decided to go on with the move.” Although there have been talks on whether Ja Morant had anything to do with this decision, the GM’s comments seem to have cleared the doubts.
Zach Kleiman opened his availability by thanking Taylor Jenkins, saying he left the organization in a better place than he found it.
This is the full Q&A portion following that. pic.twitter.com/WHHos6vmNN
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) March 29, 2025
Meanwhile, one of the league sources informed that Taylor Jenkins and Kleiman played the blame game. “No one took accountability for absolutely anything,” the source said. Loss after loss, Jenkins took the blame; he admitted it. He had to coach better in crunch time. He said it after Memphis fell twice to the Rockets in January. The 40-year-old said it again during their brutal four-game skid this month. But did anyone think those words would seal his fate?
“I’m responsible for everything,” Kleiman also said Saturday. “I’m responsible for coaching; I’m responsible for the roster; I’m not trying to absolve myself of anything.” At the same time, there is no saying if Ja Morant was truly not upset with the team, their losses, and their injuries. Because some reports would tell a different story.
This is a developing story…
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