With Tom Thibodeau out, the New York Knicks are scouring the market for a new head coach.
The Knicks cited the need for a new voice in the locker room, and Taylor Jenkins stands out as a youthful, promising option.
Fired by the Memphis Grizzlies with nine games left in the 2024-25 season, Jenkins, 40, nonetheless boasts a strong resume. He led Memphis to the playoffs three times in nearly six seasons, and a fourth appearance occurred after his ousting.
On Tuesday, The Athletic listed Jenkins as a potential Thibs replacement.
“He spent nearly six full seasons on the bench in Memphis before the Grizzlies fired him with nine games to go this season. Jenkins had a successful run there. He made the playoffs three times and would have this year if he made it through all 82 games. He’s still just 40 years old and it wasn’t that long ago that he was seen as one of the NBA’s brightest young coaches. But Jenkins’ time in Memphis ended poorly, even though he got an extension in 2022. The Grizzlies seemed to stagnate this season and there was word that players in the locker room had tuned him out. In some way, Jenkins’ circumstances as a coach who helped a franchise build itself up but not get to the final stage mirrors Thibodeau, but sometimes a new place can make for a fresh face and a reboot.”
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Jenkins’s early success in Mempnhis showcased his ability to develop young talent like Ja Morant, a skill that could enable Jenkins to maximize Jalen Brunson and the Knicks’ core.
However, reports of locker room disconnect and a stagnant 2024-25 season raise concerns.
Jenkins’s innovative approach might reignite a Knicks team one step away, but is Jenkins the right personality for NYC?
It’ll be interesting to see if the Knicks’ brass considers him a top candidate or not.
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