The Memphis Grizzlies were considered an up-and-coming team with some potential heading into last season, but they turned into a true Western Conference contender under head coach Taylor Jenkins.
Third-year point guard Ja Morant’s emergence into superstar status helped led the Grizzlies to an impressive 56-26 record, the second-best in the NBA.
This impressive year was good enough for Jenkins to finish second in Coach of the Year voting.
Memphis ultimately fell short in the second round of the NBA Playoffs against a far more experienced Golden State Warriors team, but the huge jump this season has certainly paid off for Jenkins.
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies have agreed to terms on a multi-year extension for Jenkins to remain the Grizzlies head coach moving forward.
Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins has agreed to a multi-year contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Jenkins was No. 2 in the league's coach of the year voting and led Memphis to the second-best regular-season record in the NBA.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 13, 2022
It is a very well-deserved extension for Jenkins, and many around the NBA world are excited to see what the Grizzlies can do with him at the helm for years to come.
If you told me back in 2019–when Taylor Jenkins was hired—that he would go 128-99 & make the playoffs 2 out of 3 years I would have told you that you were full of sh*t.
More than well deserved. https://t.co/KtMhAvtXU2
— Gabe Kuhn (@G_Kuhn71) June 13, 2022
Within the release about Taylor Jenkins signing a contract extension is quite a quote from Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman: "We have full confidence that Taylor will steer us to Memphis' first championship." https://t.co/9MXSnu6Yw2
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) June 13, 2022
Maybe the second easiest personnel decision the Grizzlies will make this summer. Extending Taylor Jenkins who’s done a great job the last 3 seasons. https://t.co/kcvX9pGhO6
— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) June 13, 2022
Maybe the second easiest personnel decision the Grizzlies will make this summer. Extending Taylor Jenkins who’s done a great job the last 3 seasons. https://t.co/kcvX9pGhO6
— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) June 13, 2022
In three years with Memphis, Jenkins currently sits at a 128-99 overall record with two playoff appearances.
Considering the Grizzlies currently have nobody on their roster above the age of 28, they should be a force for years to come in the Western Conference as Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Desmond Bane continue to grow as players.
It will be interesting to see if Memphis makes a big move this offseason to potentially make the next step, or if they decide to keep their young core together and hope their growth can be enough to win a championship.
Regardless, it certainly looks like Jenkins will be the man to give Memphis a real shot at a championship in the somewhat near future.
