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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)— Tuomas Iisalo has experience winning as a head coach, and now he finds himself in his inaugural NBA season, appointed as the interim head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, who are pushing for a playoff spot with just nine games remaining.
Originally hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Iisalo’s approach is straightforward: Take it one day at a time.
“It was quite unexpected, and the last 24 hours have felt chaotic as I work to get everything in order,” Iisalo remarked on Saturday during his first media session ahead of his coaching debut.
Iisalo was named head coach on Friday, just hours after Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman terminated coach Taylor Jenkins. Kleiman justified the abrupt timing of this decision as being in the Grizzlies’ best interests. Two other assistant coaches also parted ways with Jenkins, leaving Iisalo with a short bench as they prepared for a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“One of our biggest limitations is time,” Iisalo noted. “With only nine games left, we won’t be making any drastic changes, nor do we need to.”
After the Grizzlies’ morning shootaround, Kleiman shared with reporters that urgency was critical in his decision to dismiss Jenkins. He spoke for under three minutes, and no players addressed the media after the shootaround.
When asked if he believes making this move at this juncture—starting a series in which eight out of nine of their final opponents are either playoff teams or vying for a play-in spot—could help Memphis salvage their season, Kleiman stated that his focus is on the team’s operations. Mathematically, it remains possible for Memphis to secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, and it’s rather unlikely the Grizzlies will drop into play-in tournament territory.
“I’m accountable for everything,” Kleiman asserted. “I’m responsible for the coaching, the roster. This isn’t about distancing myself from anything. I’m eager to see how this team fares in the upcoming games, but I concluded that this was the best course of action for the team moving forward.”
Kleiman clarified that he did not consult players regarding Jenkins’ dismissal. The players in the locker room ahead of the game expressed their surprise at the announcement. GG Jackson mentioned he was in the midst of brushing his teeth when friends started reaching out to confirm whether rumors he had heard about a firing were true.
Reserve guard Scotty Pippen also reacted with disbelief upon learning the news via social media.
“The timing is a bit wild; everything feels a bit surreal. I really didn’t expect this,” Pippen said, expressing gratitude to Jenkins for the opportunity to play in the NBA.
Pippen further remarked on the team’s recent performance, having returned home from a 1-4 road trip, and cited a lack of competitiveness as a recurring topic in team discussions.
“It’s something everyone recognizes; it’s the elephant in the room,” Pippen said. “We all know we aren’t playing at the level we need to be, both defensively and offensively. Other teams are capitalizing on that.”
Kleiman played a pivotal role in hiring Jenkins back in June 2019 following his own ascension to executive vice president of basketball operations. He did not respond to a question about his expectations for Memphis’ next coach.
At the time of his dismissal, Jenkins was the fifth-longest-tenured coach with his team in the league, trailing only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Golden State’s Steve Kerr, and Denver’s Michael Malone—all of whom have won NBA championships. This season, despite a developing roster, the Grizzlies’ performance against top-tier teams was disappointing.
The Grizzlies were winless in four games against Oklahoma City, losing by margins of 24, 13, 17, and 21 points. They’ve recorded a 3-6 mark this season against Houston, Denver, and the Lakers—the next three teams in the Western standings above them. Overall, Memphis was 33-9 against teams with a .500 record or lower and 11-20 against winning teams.
Jenkins, with a career record of 250-214, was the franchise’s most successful coach since its establishment in 1995. He held the longest coaching tenure for the Grizzlies since Lionel Hollins, who was not retained after his contract expired following a 2013 run to the Western Conference Finals with a 56-26 record.
However, Jenkins faced criticism for using too many players at a time when a tighter rotation was necessary, as well as for his decisions regarding late-game timeouts and other strategies. When asked about rumors of frustration from two-time All-Star Ja Morant regarding the Grizzlies’ offensive approach, Kleiman reiterated that the decision lay with him.
Morant, who has been sidelined for the last six games due to a left hamstring strain, will be available for the matchup against the Lakers.
Now, Iisalo steps into the role. He joined the NBA as an assistant coach for the Grizzlies this season, marking him as the first Finnish-born coach in the league. Iisalo has played and coached in Europe, including a stint in 2024 as head coach of Paris Basketball, where he secured the EuroCup and earned accolades as that league’s coach of the year. He also managed Telekom Baskets Bonn from 2021 to 2023 and Crailsheim Merlins from 2016 to 2021.
Regarding his future with the Grizzlies beyond this season, Iisalo stated that his primary focus is on the team, the upcoming games, and ensuring a smooth transition.
One day at a time.
“There’s no point in looking too far ahead,” Iisalo remarked.
