It still feels unreal to think that Taylor Jenkins isn’t leading the Memphis Grizzlies anymore. Ahead of the all-important game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, the apocalyptic news broke through the locker room. GM Zach Kleiman had given his verdict: Jenkins cannot coach the team anymore. But what about the players who had adapted to their head coach’s antics and strategies? What about Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, who’ve only ever known Jenkins as their coach?
Recently, the team had slipped but was still 15 games over .500 and tied for fourth in the West at the time. Meanwhile, Morant and Bane spoke to the media for the first time since the big swap happened. Following their 127-134 loss vs. the Lakers on Saturday, Ja said: “It’s tough for me. I’ve had Coach Taylor since I got here. Everything I’ve done in a Grizzlies jersey has pretty much been under him.”
Morant joined the Grizzlies the same year as Taylor Jenkins in 2019. And for the last six years, they’ve been a power duo to reckon with. So, the 25-year-old guard added: “It’s my first time really experiencing a coach leaving since I’ve been hooping. It was a lot to process. With the timing, it’s just tough. We had to quickly turn the page.”
Jan 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins reacts after a foul during the second quarter against the Utah Jazz at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
On the other hand, Jaren Jackson Jr., who is still in a state of shock, said: “That’s my dog. That will forever be my dog. It was surprising. It would have been surprising at any point. He had a great impact while he was here. He’s gonna be one of the more sought-after coaches in his journey elsewhere and deservedly so.” For the Block Panther, Jenkins has been his only coach, too.
Now, Desmond Bane said the players held a meeting after the firing to clear the air and process what happened, as reported by The Athletic. He informed: “I just wanted them to get out all their raw emotions. Don’t hold nothing back. Let it all out, and that way, we can truly move forward. I told them we have a really talented group, and we can still do some special things. Tuomas (Iisalo) is a really smart guy, and we should buy into what he’s trying to do, and then see what we can do these last few games and beyond.”
Bane encouraged his teammates to express their emotions freely after the firing. He reminded them of their talent and the potential to achieve great things. Meanwhile, Ja Morant and Jackson’s reactions took an emotional turn as their connection with Taylor Jenkins runs deeper than with anyone else. But keep in mind, the world knows who the real culprit behind the head coach’s firing is. If you don’t know yet, then Zach Kleiman has the answers for you.
Grizzlies GM unveils the identity of the person who was responsible for Taylor Jenkins’s firing
No one saw this coming. A playoff-bound team, yet they cut ties with one of the league’s longest-tenured coaches. Just like that. But was this truly sudden? Or were there signs hiding in plain sight? The real question is: Who pulled the trigger on Coach Jenkins’s fate at the Grizzlies? The simple answer is general manager Zach Kleiman. He showed up before the media on Saturday morning to give context on the event’s timing.
GM Kleiman cleared all doubts over this case and said, “The decision is mine and mine only.” He also confessed: “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.” Blame bounced back and forth. A league source revealed, “No one took accountability for absolutely anything.”
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
Loss after loss, Jenkins owned it. He had to coach better—he said it after falling to the Rockets, then again during their four-game skid. But did anyone think those words would seal his fate? Meanwhile, Kleiman didn’t dodge responsibility either. “I’m responsible for everything,” he admitted. “I’m responsible for coaching; I’m responsible for the roster; I’m not trying to absolve myself of anything.” Yet, here they are—one still standing, the other gone.
Taylor Jenkins is gone, but the sting still lingers. Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. didn’t just lose a coach—they lost a leader, a mentor, a piece of their journey. Kleiman made the call, but the echoes of it still linger. Now, the Grizzlies have no choice but to move forward, even if their hearts aren’t ready.
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