Last week, the Memphis Grizzlies made a surprising move by dismissing their long-serving coach Taylor Jenkins with only nine games remaining in the season.
This decision is likely to be remembered as one of the most startling coaching dismissals in NBA history, particularly given its timing as the team was poised for the playoffs. However, it seemed inevitable that the Grizzlies would soon part ways with either Jenkins or their key player, Ja Morant, as per a recent report by ESPN.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon explained on Monday that Morant was displeased with the new offensive strategy introduced by Jenkins and his revamped coaching staff this season. Now in his sixth season, Morant is scoring an average of 22.4 points per game and has a shooting accuracy of 44.8% from the field, which are his lowest statistics since his sophomore year.
It was widely known throughout the NBA that Morant was not content in Memphis.
“Following a downturn in performance, with the Grizzlies losing six of their last eight games after the All-Star break, there was increasing pressure. A general manager from another Western Conference team believed that Morant would likely be put on the trading block this summer if the situation didn’t change,” according to the ESPN report.
Morant, who is only 25 years old, still has three years remaining on his contract and is set to earn $39.4 million next season. As a young and promising star entering his prime, the question remains whether his talents alone can secure a championship for Memphis. The dismissal of Jenkins seems to signal the Grizzlies’ commitment to retaining Morant long enough to attempt to win a title.
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