Grizzlies coach candidates: Who could Memphis target to replace fired Taylor Jenkins?
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Who does Gordon Hayward think will win NBA MVP this season?
Former NBA player Gordon Hayward has his choice between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP, and make it clear who he thinks should win.
Sports Seriously
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 lead 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 lead 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 lead 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
36 minutes ago
- Fox News
Charles Barkley believes coaches in today's NBA are 'cowards'
Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke candidly Friday about how players in today's NBA could become great, and it all revolved around who is on the bench. Barkley lamented how coaches treat NBA players today, suggesting some are "scared to coach" because of how much money players make. "I think the biggest thing you need to be a great player is have a good coaching staff. That is probably the most important thing — the coaching staff," Barkley explained on "The Dan Patrick Show." "I think more players get ruined by bad coaching staffs … because coaches are cowards. They're scared to coach. "Like, I wanted a Pat Riley. I had a great coach, Billy Cunningham, a Gregg Popovich, but most of the coaches today, they are cowards because the players make so much money. They don't have them under control. The players run the team. And the coach needs to realize that player is going to get him fired, but we have taken the power from the coaches away because the players make so much money. But I say bad coaches have ruined more players than anything in the NBA." Barkley spoke to Patrick at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. The annual event took place over the weekend, and former NHL star Joe Pavelski took home the trophy. The former Phoenix Suns star finished tied for 69th despite most bettors wagering he would win the tournament.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Former UNC basketball star records double-double in NBA Summer League action
The NBA Summer League featured a UNC highlight reel during Monday action. Huge game from Harrison 😤 When you look back at the 2023-2024 UNC basketball season, who's the most impactful player that comes to your mind from that team? Is it Armando Bacot? RJ Davis? Cormac Ryan? What about Harrison Ingram? A 6'7" junior forward who could play anywhere on the floor, Ingram brought a rare versatility to Chapel Hill that college basketball programs are lucky to find. Ingram averaged 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and one steal per game during his lone season at North Carolina, earning Third Team All-ACC Honors. Just three months after the Tar Heels' once-promising year fell flat against Alabama in the Sweet 16, Ingram heard his name called in the 2024 NBA Draft. Ingram played five games with the San Antonio Spurs last season, but spent most of his time with the G League's Austin Spurs. Now playing Summer League basketball in Las Vegas, Ingram is trying to convince San Antonio for an NBA call-up. If Ingram's recent success is any indicator of making the Spurs' NBA roster, he's on the right track. Ingram recorded a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double during San Antonio's 93-91 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday. Ingram will get a chance to build on Monday's strong performance this Thursday, July 17 at 7 p.m. against the Charlotte Hornets. With the Spurs currently 3-0, Ingram has a strong chance to compete for an NBA Summer League Championship. There's another former Tar Heel currently on San Antonio's roster: Harrison Barnes. The Spurs have a very young team, headlined by Victor Wembanyama, giving Ingram a great pathway to earn minutes. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bronny James showcasing second-year improvement in Vegas as his development journey with Lakers continues
Bronny James scored the Los Angeles Lakers' first three points Monday night in Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Clippers. Actually, he scored 10 of the Lakers' first 18 points in the Summer League matchup. Following James' game-opening 3, he carried on with his best performance of the month. During a 67-58 Clippers win that often looked more like a college basketball rock fight than an NBA Summer League game, James achieved respectable offensive efficiency. Advertisement The 2024 second-round pick shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 5 from deep, and finished with a team-high 17 points, plus five rebounds and five assists. Granted James committed three turnovers, but the 6-foot-2 guard also tied center Christian Koloko for the best plus/minus (+5) of any Lakers player Monday night. While James is once again the most-watched Lakers Summer League player, the 20-year-old son of one of the sport's all-time greats is not his team's top performer. Cole Swider, 26, has turned heads with impressive shotmaking the last couple weeks. Darius Bazley, 25, has showcased wide-ranging defensive versatility that makes the former first-round pick a role player candidate this season, too. As for James, he still has a ways to go in his development. Advertisement That said, he's definitely improved. He's shown significantly more poise and confidence in this year's Summer League than he did last time around. James has averaged 15.5 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 3.5 turnovers over his most recent two games. In his three games since arriving in Vegas, James has posted 13 points, 3.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 turnovers per contest while shooting 44.8% from the field and 31.3% from 3. For reference, James recorded a mere 32.7% field goal percentage in Summer League play as a rookie. In other words, he shot 17 of 52, including a ghastly 3 of 23 from beyond the arc. Advertisement The Lakers have trusted James to handle the ball more in this year's Summer League, and he's enjoyed some success orchestrating pick-and-roll offense. To earn a role in the NBA, he's still likely going to have to become a serviceable 3-and-D player. Right now, James' defense is ahead of his 3-point shooting. Despite his height, he's equipped with a 6-foot-7 wing span and a 215-pound frame that allow him to stand his ground against bigger players, as evidenced by him holding his own against this year's top draft pick, Cooper Flagg on July 10. That game was highly anticipated, given Flagg was making his Summer League debut after becoming the NBA's youngest No. 1 overall pick since LeBron James in 2003. The younger James kicked off the matchup with five straight points, both from buckets over Flagg. Advertisement James cooled down after that, however. His two Summer League appearances in the "California Classic" came with ups and downs as well. After showing off his athleticism with a high-flying dunk and scoring 10 first-half points in 11 minutes against the Miami Heat on July 6, James struggled two days later in 15 minutes of action against the San Antonio Spurs. That time out, he logged 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 3 turnovers while shooting only 1 of 5 from the field. James is another year older, and he's got 27 NBA games and a good dose of the G League under his belt. His improvement in the Summer League is encouraging, but the stakes are also higher in his second year with the franchise, especially with LeBron's Lakers window apparently closing.
