Denver Nuggets director Michael Malone shares an unfiltered response to Taylor Jenkins’ firing.
As far as their records go, the Memphis Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the Western Conference. After all, they hold the fifth seed at the meeting with a record of 44-29.
They are now tied with the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the much-anticipated two-team matchup this season.
The Grizzlies could potentially score a top six finish this season. However, the top brass didn’t seem to like the direction of the team, leading to the sudden announcement of head coach Taylor Jenkins’ firing.
The Grizzlies’ decision to fire Jenkins has been perplexed by almost everyone in the NBA community, including Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Malone learned about the news during a post-match meeting after his victory over the Utah Jazz.
“I was shocked. At the same time it’s shocking and weird. There are times when things happening that I don’t know,” Malone said according to X’s Vic Lombardi.
The Nuggets head coach suspects that the full story of Jenkins’ looting has yet to be revealed.
Malone’s “shocked” response is justified given that he shares the same agent with the former Grizzlies head coach.
Jenkins and Malone are represented by one agent from the Creative Artist Agency (CAA).
Regardless of what happened behind the scenes between Jenkins and the Grizzlies, the postseason will sack the head coach for an unprecedented nine games, especially for potential WCF bound teams.
Certainly, the Grizzlies have not beaten teams above the .500 mark since early February 2025, except for the Dallas Mavericks, but the decision may have been delayed until the offseason.
On top of that, Jenkins was the organisation’s most winning coach. In six seasons with the Grizzlies, he had a 250-214 record, including three postseason appearances.