Many fans around the basketball world find themselves scratching their heads after the news out of the Memphis Grizzlies organization came out on Tuesday. The Grizzlies have hired Milwaukee Bucks assistant Taylor Jenkins as their next head coach. The head-scratching comes in to play because not too many people know exactly who Taylor Jenkins is, outside of the face that he is the new Grizzlies head coach. Well, the Grizzlies' fan base will get to know him fairly quickly, as the team will be formally introducing him with a press conference on Wednesday.
The Grizzlies allowed their new executive vice president, Zach Kleiman, lead this coaching search, which lasted about two months. Kleiman went to a common spot for NBA teams to go the past two off-seasons for coaches, as Jenkins is now the third coach to get pulled from Mike Budenholzer's staff over the past year. He joins both Kenny Atkinson and Quin Snyder as those that have gone elsewhere after working under the Bucks' coach.
Jenkins was an assistant on Budenholzer's staff with the Bucks this past season, along with the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018. He does have some head coaching experience, coaching the San Antonio Spurs' G League team in Austin, Texas, where he led them to the playoffs once.
Despite not too many people knowing just who he is, this non-household name does have the reputation of a great teacher in the game. That is perfect for a team that already has young talent in Jaren Jackson Jr., and even more to come with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft. Many expect that selection to be Ja Morant, as the Grizzlies continue to rebuild their roster from the ground-up.
The Grizzlies allowed their new executive vice president, Zach Kleiman, lead this coaching search, which lasted about two months. Kleiman went to a common spot for NBA teams to go the past two off-seasons for coaches, as Jenkins is now the third coach to get pulled from Mike Budenholzer's staff over the past year. He joins both Kenny Atkinson and Quin Snyder as those that have gone elsewhere after working under the Bucks' coach.
Jenkins was an assistant on Budenholzer's staff with the Bucks this past season, along with the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018. He does have some head coaching experience, coaching the San Antonio Spurs' G League team in Austin, Texas, where he led them to the playoffs once.
Despite not too many people knowing just who he is, this non-household name does have the reputation of a great teacher in the game. That is perfect for a team that already has young talent in Jaren Jackson Jr., and even more to come with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft. Many expect that selection to be Ja Morant, as the Grizzlies continue to rebuild their roster from the ground-up.
