The Grizzlies believe this firing will help reconnect the team's tantalizing core -- and reignite Ja Morant. But in truth, this dismissal began with five other ones nearly a year ago.

The Athletic's Sam Amick, Fred Katz and Joe Vardon previously reported after that Morant "remained supportive of the coach up to the end," but did not enjoy playing in an offensive system that "takes the ball out of his hands and removes the screens he likes to use as a ball handler to make plays."

In the immediate aftermath of the Grizzlies firing head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday, outsiders and national pundits wondered loudly why Memphis’ brain trust would move on from a coach who’s not only the winningest regular-season bench boss in franchise history,