Another Western Conference team is downsizing its coaching staff.
According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Memphis Grizzlies are reorganizing their coaching staff under Taylor Jenkins. While Jenkins will continue in his position, the Grizzlies have let go of numerous assistant coaches as part of a staff reorganization for the 2024-25 season.
The move comes after the Grizzlies, who were a No. 2 seed in 2022-23, finished 27-55 this season. That was by far their poorest finish in Jenkins’ five seasons in charge (yet they only received the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft).
Granted, Memphis’ dismal season was most likely not the result of poor coaching. This season, the Grizzlies lost an NBA-high 592 games due to injury, and they were forced to play some absolutely crazy lineups at times owing to their lack of depth.
Despite the lost season, the staff did a good job developing several of its young players (such as GG Jackson, Ziaire Williams, and Vince Williams Jr.) into viable NBA contributors.
Nonetheless, the Grizzlies have opted to make significant adjustments. The expectation is that a fresh group of assistants can negotiate certain facets of the job more effectively, particularly whatever is going on with star player Ja Morant.
