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The Memphis Grizzlies were the first team to be eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, enduring a 0-4 defeat against the Golden State Warriors in the opening round.
Tuomas Iisalo, the interim head coach of the Grizzlies, succinctly encapsulated the series.
“Our inability to manage turnovers significantly impacted our chances of winning,” Iisalo remarked.
After stepping in as head coach on March 29 following Taylor Jenkins’ departure, Iisalo was queried about his future with the team.
“I’m not focused on that right now. My aim was to do my utmost. Decisions regarding that will be made by others in the future. Would I like to be the full-time head coach? Absolutely, why not,” Iisalo replied.
Having joined the Grizzlies’ coaching staff last summer after previously leading Telekom Baskets Bonn and Paris, Iisalo found himself in the head coach role during his inaugural season. He shared his insights on the experience.
“I’m sure there will be time to contemplate that later. For now, I’ve been concentrating on my responsibilities. I see it as my role to assist the players on the court and equip them with the necessary skills to compete against their opponents. Any reflection will have to wait; I’m just really proud of how the players managed this transition,” he said.
Looking ahead to what’s next after the early playoff exit, Iisalo stated, “I’ll head home and likely enjoy a glass of bourbon, since we are in the South. After that, we’ll start preparing our coaching staff reports for the exit interviews scheduled for tomorrow. Essentially, we’ll go over our assessments for each player, provide them with some tools for their summer training, and share our thoughts on areas they can enhance and where they excelled. We want to have a foundation for the discussions that will happen tomorrow,” Iisalo concluded.
