Tuomas Iisalo, fresh off winning the EuroCup, steps into the NBA spotlight as Memphis’ interim head coach. With the Grizzlies in playoff contention and just nine games left, he’s focused on steady leadership and one day at a time.
With just nine games left in the regular season, Tuomas Iisalo finds himself thrust into the NBA spotlight.
Memphis Grizzlies / Schedule
The Finnish coach, who made his name in Europe by winning the EuroCup with Paris Basketball, is now leading the Memphis Grizzlies as interim head coach following the sudden dismissal of Taylor Jenkins.
Iisalo’s first game at the helm was anything but smooth. The Grizzlies fell behind by 20 points early against the Los Angeles Lakers, mounted a comeback, but ultimately lost 134-127. Despite the loss, Iisalo remained focused on the process.
“A lot of times, you don’t know what happened during the game until you watch the video,” he said postgame. “But I can already say we (didn’t do) the basics in the first half, so we’ve got to do a better job.”
The sudden coaching change sent shockwaves through the team. Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman defended the decision, citing a need for urgency with the playoffs approaching. However, no players were consulted about Jenkins’ firing, which caught many off guard.
“It’s tough for me,” star guard Ja Morant admitted. “I had Coach Taylor since I got here. Everything I’ve done in a Grizzlies jersey has been under him. It was a lot to process.”
Scotty Pippen Jr. and GG Jackson were similarly stunned, learning about the change through social media and messages from friends. Despite the abrupt transition, Iisalo remains committed to keeping the team focused during the final stretch.
Iisalo’s path to the NBA is unconventional. The Helsinki native built his reputation in European basketball, coaching in Germany before leading Paris Basketball to the EuroCup title in 2024, earning Coach of the Year honors. His ability to develop talent and implement structured game plans made him an attractive hire for Memphis as an assistant coach before the season.
3-pointers this season
Memphis Grizzlies
NBA
Now, he faces his biggest challenge yet: guiding a Grizzlies team that has struggled against elite opponents. While Memphis has dominated weaker teams with a 33-9 record against sub-.500 squads, they have faltered against top-tier competition, going just 11-20 against winning teams.
With the playoffs still in sight, Iisalo is taking a measured approach to his new role.
“There’s no reason to be thinking too far ahead,” he said. “We just have to focus on improving every day.”
Despite the rocky start, he found positives in the team’s resilience against the Lakers.
“I thought it was encouraging,” he noted. “The goal of the game is to win, but after that lackluster start, we did a lot of things better in the second half.”
Iisalo has yet to comment on whether he hopes to stay in Memphis beyond this season. For now, his focus remains on the immediate task—getting the Grizzlies back on track and making the most of this unexpected opportunity in the NBA.
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