Wednesday’s 117-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was a historic moment for Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins, as he notched his 215th career win and became the franchise’s all-time winningest coach, surpassing the legendary Lionel Hollins.
After the game, Jenkins reflected on becoming the team’s winningest coach, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledging the coaches who paved the way before him. He emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with players and the community, and said he feels blessed to be part of the Grizzlies’ legacy:
“It’s an unbelievable honor to be among the company of so many great coaches that have come before me. I always talk about the unbelievable responsibility I have: to be the head coach of this franchise. The faith that Robert [Pera]’s had in me, [Zach Kleiman]’s had in me, our players, the staff I get to work with every single day.”
Jenkins recalled what former Grizzlies coaches had told him: “They said Memphis is going to give you everything they’ve got if you give them everything you’ve got, but they’re going to give it to you ten-fold. So, I hope I can give it to them ten-fold, they can give it to me a hundredfold and more. It’s an honor.”
Against Philadelphia, Memphis showcased a well-rounded offense, with Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the charge with 25 points. Through 14 games, Jackson Jr. is averaging 23 points per game to lead the Grizzlies to 9-7 on the season.
Desmond Bane was also impressive, narrowly missing a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Bane had been struggling offensively after returning from injury. On Tuesday night in the 122-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets, he went 1-of-10 from the field. He knew he had to be better.
“I didn’t like the way I played last night (against Denver),” said Bane. “I slept on it, thought about it, and wanted to come back and make sure that I led with the right foot forward, so I knew that I was gonna lead. I didn’t know how, but I knew I was going to lead.”
Other key contributors included Santi Aldama with 12 points and six assists, rookie Jaylen Wells with 14 points and standout defensive play, Luke Kennard with 12 points, including three three-pointers, and Jake LaRavia, who added 11 points, 5 rebounds, four assists while shooting 4-of-4 from the field.
Despite being short-handed, the Grizzlies have shown resilience. Notably absent from the lineup are several key players, including Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Zach Edey, GG Jackson II, Vince Williams Jr., and John Konchar.
On the Horizon
The Grizzlies are set to face the Chicago Bulls on the road this Saturday, November 23rd. Following that, they’ll head back to Memphis for a four-game homestand, which tips off on Monday, November 26, against the Portland Trail Blazers, and continues with matchups against the Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers.
