The Memphis Grizzlies are 44-29, tied for the fourth-best mark in a very tough Western Conference. Taylor Jenkins had posted a .539 winning percentage and was about to clinch his fourth postseason berth in six seasons.
Yet, Friday, in a somewhat stunning move, the Grizzlies fired Jenkins — the winningest coach in franchise history — with nine games left in the regular season.
The Grizzlies had lost five of their last seven games and had been sliding down the Western Conference standings, but the timing nonetheless remains questionable. It also raises the question if Memphis can attract a clear upgrade at head coach.
Here are eight possible replacements the Memphis Grizzlies may consider to replace Jenkins:
David Adelman, Nuggets assistant coach
Serving as Denver coach Michael Malone’s lead assistant, Adelman has drawn head coaching interviews in recent hiring cycles and figures to be one of the top assistants available. The son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, David spent the majority of his life around the NBA. Known to be an offensive-minded assistant, Adelman has evolved his father’s legacy of turning big men into attacking centerpieces; Nikola Jokić has become one of the dominant forces in the NBA and the Nuggets lead the league in points in the paint per game (58.2). The second-ranked team? The Grizzlies, averaging 56.4 per game.
Terry Stotts, Warriors assistant coach
What Adelman lacks in head coaching experience, Stotts has in abundance. Stotts, 67, has been an NBA head coach for 13 seasons. The Warriors hired Stotts this past offseason with the aim of reinvigorating Golden State’s offense; by and large, he has delivered. Known for his ability to develop and work with guards, Stotts was instrumental in the development of Damian Lillard with the Trail Blazers and has a reputation for working well with a team’s stars. Still the Blazers’ second-most winningest coach, Stotts would pair well with dynamic Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant.
Tuomas Iisalo, Grizzlies interim coach
If Memphis wanted to go the internal route, Iisalo, a former Finnish player, will be the option. The Grizzlies appointed him to be the interim coach for the remainder of the season, which can often be a trial run for aspiring coaches. He joined the Grizzlies this offseason when Jenkins overhauled his assistant coaching staff. Iisalo built his reputation in Europe, where he led Paris Basketball to a 22-1 record last season, winning the EuroCup championship and EuroCup Coach of the Year in his first season with the organization. Iisalo leaned on transition offense, pushing the ball up the court, something the Grizzlies have embodied in his one season in Memphis; the team ranks first in the NBA in pace (103.85).
Sam Cassell, Celtics assistant coach
This would be a hire that’s also geared toward guard play. Cassell, a 15-year point guard, has had assistant coaching stops with the Wizards, Clippers, 76ers and Celtics. Cassell has already drawn interest in previous coaching cycles. Given Boston’s success, it feels like a matter of time before he’s appointed as a head coach. Known for taking an honest approach with his players, Cassell has worked with stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Joel Embiid.
Jarron Collins, Pelicans assistant coach
If the Grizzlies wanted to address defense with their hire, Collins, a former center, could be a viable option. Collins, 46, actually interviewed for the Grizzlies coaching vacancy during the 2019 cycle, before the team hired Jenkins. Collins served as an assistant with the Warriors under Steve Kerr from 2014-21, becoming Kerr’s trusted defensive specialist on staff. On staff for three championship teams in Golden State, Collins would almost certainly emphasize low-post defense with rookie Zach Edey and 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.
Kevin Young, BYU head coach
Though he made the jump to college this season, Young remains a coach with deep ties to the NBA, most notably his three seasons spent (2021-24) as the associate head coach of the Suns. Young worked closely with Suns star guard Devin Booker, helping him earn his first and only first-team All-NBA selection in 2021-22. In fact, that season, he helped Phoenix snap a 10-year postseason drought, with the Suns eventually falling to the Bucks in the NBA Finals. At BYU this season, he led the Cougars to a 26-10 record before Thursday night’s loss against the Crimson Tide in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
Frank Vogel, Mavericks coaching consultant
There’s an argument to be made that Vogel should still be the head coach of the Suns, who fired him May 2024 after he spent just one season with the team. Vogel has since joined the Mavericks staff under coach Jason Kidd as a consultant. Vogel has 12 years of head coaching experience and led the Lakers to an NBA title in the 2019-20, COVID-19-impacted season. At his stops, Vogel has stressed discipline and attention to detail — traits the Grizzlies have lacked at times, as they’re tied for second-to-last in the NBA in turnovers per game (15.9). And offensively, he asks his teams to rely on passing and off-ball movement to exploit defenses.
Mike Brown, former Kings coach
It was rather surprising when Sacramento fired Mike Brown on Dec. 27 after he compiled a .549 winning percentage with the team. If the Grizzlies chose to go with Brown, though, it would present something of a philosophical shift; Brown’s teams have typically been in the middle of the pack of the league in pace. Nonetheless, Brown is an experienced coach who demands hustle and grit from his players, particularly on defense. That is one area where Sacramento has struggled this season without him; since the All-Star break, the Kings are dead last in defensive 3-point percentage, allowing teams to lace shots at an alarming 41.2% clip.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
