PHILADELPHIA – Taylor Jenkins would only do one thing differently next time.
“I’ll probably need to bring another change of clothes when these milestones come up,” Jenkins joked in the aftermath of his 200th coaching victory. “You don’t take this opportunity for granted.”
As the Grizzlies returned to the practice court Tuesday, Jenkins took a moment to reflect on the collective emotions and atmosphere that followed the previous night’s 106-102 win in Brooklyn.
The scene that unfolded inside the visitors’ locker room Monday at Barclays Center was euphoric as players swarmed Jenkins and doused him with buckets and bottles of water.
It was equal parts relief and celebration for the Grizzlies, who snapped a five-game losing streak, won their first game since last month’s All-Star break and avenged last week’s demoralizing, blowout home loss to the Nets in Memphis.
But beyond that, the victory made Jenkins just the second coach in franchise history to notch 200 wins the Grizzlies. In his fifth season, Jenkins trails only Lionel Hollins, who won 214 games with Memphis and guided the Grizzlies as far as the 2013 Western Conference finals.
Jenkins emerged late Monday night from the arena in Brooklyn still partially drenched and clutching the official game ball he was presented by the team to commemorate the milestone. It’s one of the encouraging bright spots during what’s largely been a bleak season for Memphis, which has endured a rash of major injuries that have sidelined most of its key players.
As a result, the Grizzlies (21-41) are headed toward missing the NBA postseason for the first time since Jenkins’ first season as head coach in 2019. But the Grizzlies are still pushing forward as they approach the final 20 games of the season looking to maximize growth and development opportunities for their young and back-end roster players.
Monday night was about stepping back and embracing a special moment for the 39-year-old, first time head coach. Tuesday, however, was all about getting back to work. And that’s what the Grizzlies did during a practice at the Nets’ training center in Brooklyn before traveling to Philadelphia to wrap up the two-game trip Wednesday against the 76ers.
“This was coming in and cleaning up some things on the offensive side,” Jenkins said of trying to generate some cohesion with a team that has used a NBA-high 36 different starting lineups this season. “We’ve had some guys playing some unique positions out there. We just want to make sure everyone is on the same page in games from the teaching points we’ve had on film.”
Grizzlies players have appreciated Jenkins’ relentless approach to teaching and communicating even through some of the most difficult stages of the season. The Grizzlies have been without star players Ja Morant, Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane for much of this season. In addition, reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. has missed the past few games.
More rotation shuffling looms amid the team’s latest injury update entering Wednesday’s game.
The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that veteran guard Derrick Rose will be reevaluated in three weeks after missing the past three games with lower back and groin soreness. The team also said forward Ziaire Williams, who suffered a hip flexor Saturday, will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Jenkins has had to navigate a season in which the Grizzlies have had nearly a combined 360 games missed due to player injuries. Yet, players insist Jenkins’ expectations and standards haven’t changed despite the daunting circumstances.
“The work (Jenkins) has put in has been insane,” Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama said. “I know this has been tough for the players, but it’s also tough for (coaches). Sometimes we come in during the morning and the whole plan we’ve had has had to change (by the start of the game), because of how the team has been. But he’s done a great job of checking in with us. He knows we’re human too. The situations we’ve been in have been tough. But we know we’re all building from this, and we’ll come back next season and be even stronger from this.”
In these moments, Jenkins draws strength from the foundation the Grizzlies have built over the past five seasons. Each day is its own unique opportunity to fulfill his mantra from Day 1 – which is to compete, play together and get a bit better every day.
The Grizzlies were coming off the past two seasons when they finished second in the Western Conference standings despite playing one of the NBA’s youngest primary rotation of players. Jenkins, whose overall record is 200-171, has finished in the top 10 in coach of the year voting each of the past two seasons, including second in 2022 behind winner Monty Williams.
The obstacles have been different this season, but the steadfast approach from the bench hasn’t wavered.
“It’s not about me getting the 200th win, it’s about the team and what we’ve been able to accomplish over five years,” Jenkins reflected Tuesday. “To see the team and how everyone has been stepping up . . . everyone has had a responsibility in helping me reach this milestone. I told the guys, ‘I care about you so much, but the fact that you care about each other so much, we can enjoy getting to this.’ And everyone is saying there’s 100, 200, 300 more (to get).”
The Grizzlies will try to gain as much as they can the rest of this season. Then, the expectation is there will soon be plenty of joy along the journey again.
For now, after literally soaking in his 200th victory, Jenkins is simply eager to get back to work.