The head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies has been involved with the franchise since 2019, guiding the team to playoff games, with the most recent occurring in the 2022/2023 season. The season began with much anticipation due to the suspension of their star player.
Taylor Jenkins’s team lost in Game 7 of the NBA season against the Utah Jazz, leaving the Grizzlies with only one win so far this season. This prompted Jenkins to speak critically about the officials. However, the NBA has finally responded to Jenkins’s comments in an unconventional manner.
Why did the NBA fine Taylor Jenkins?
Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins received a $25,000 fine for openly criticizing officiating, as announced by the NBA on Sunday. In his postgame news conference following a 127-121 home loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday, which dropped the Grizzlies to a 1-8 record, Jenkins began his postgame address with “Saddle up,” and added, “One of the most poorly officiated games I’ve ever seen. Record it. I’m fine with it. F—ing atrocious.”
Jenkins specifically addressed the ejection of Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. “He’s one of the most professional players in this league and gets a double technical foul, and the excuse that I get is that he’s charging at an official,” he said. “It’s called de-escalation.”
Highlighting the Jazz’s significant advantage in free throws (29-13) and expressing frustration with poor communication, Jenkins criticized the officials for showing “complete disrespect” to the team. He added that the player has been a good professional and a very hardworking player.
This isn’t the first time Jenkins has been fined by the NBA for criticizing officials. In Game 4 during the 2022 playoffs round matches, he was fined $15,000 for declaring a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, stating, “never seen a more inconsistent, arrogantly officiated game.”
Grizzlies performance this NBA season under Taylor Jenkins
The Memphis Grizzlies haven’t had much to celebrate in the early stages of the 2023-24 NBA season. They found themselves as the only team without a win at one point, raising questions about the status of coach Taylor Jenkins. Thankfully, they got their first win of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on the 5th of November with the score line at 112–100.
Just yesterday, Memphis recorded their second win of the season over the LA Clippers with a 101-105 scoreline. In a game against a struggling Los Angeles team, Desmond Bane shone with a 27-point performance, leading Memphis to its second victory of the season. The Grizzlies, with a record of 2-8, eagerly await the return of All-Star guard Ja Morant next month after his 25-game suspension.
However, Taylor Jenkins seems to get things right after a disappointing start to the current season by beating the Clippers, who are still searching for their first win in four games since acquiring Harden through a trade. Let us see if Jenkins and his lads will continue the run.
