“Surprise Contender Emerges: Who’s the Top Pick to Lead the Grizzlies into a New Era?”

Amidst swirling expectations and a palpable sense of change, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves at a crossroads following the dismissal of head coach Taylor Jenkins. The question on everyone’s mind is: who will step into the spotlight to lead this franchise into the future? With the playoffs looming large, decisions must be made, and interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo has emerged as a frontrunner—though he’s not without his challengers. As the clock ticks down toward the postseason, every tactical choice and strategic play will be scrutinized. Will Iisalo seize this opportunity and swing the Grizzlies from regular-season success to playoff prominence, or will he join the long list of coaches who couldn’t quite crack the code? Dive with me as we explore the latest coaching odds, the stakes involved, and how Iisalo’s temporary tenure could reshape Memphis’s championship dreams.

The Memphis Grizzlies parted ways with Taylor Jenkins on Friday and now there are many questions about the future of the team.

One of the biggest, of course, is who will be the head coach next season.

There are many names floating around as a potential replacement for Jenkins in 2025-26, but one sits above the rest.

According to Bovada, per NBACentral, interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo has +150 odds to be in the position next year.

He is followed by Jeff Van Gundy with +400, James Borrego with +450, Micah Nori with +500, and Mitch Johnson with +700.

Darvin Ham, Rick Pitino, Nate McMillan, and others are also on the list.

Odds on who will be the Grizzlies’ head coach next season:

Tuomas Lisalo +150
Jeff Van Gundy +400
James Borrego +450
Micah Nori +500
Sam Cassell +600
Mitch Johnson +700
Darvin Ham +1600
Rick Pitino +1600
Nate McMillan +1800
Dan Hurley +4000
Nick Nurse +5000
Mike Budenholzer… pic.twitter.com/Wm5oV412CK

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 29, 2025

Iisalo is getting to work right away, leading the team as the playoffs quickly approach.

He will be under a harsh spotlight and every little misstep will be judged.

Of course, any success will look very good for Iisalo as well, so he could make the most of this period and give himself a lead on securing the job for the long-term future.

A lot will depend on how the Grizzlies do in the postseason.

They have been a strong regular-season team but have consistently had problems in the playoffs, which is one of the main reasons why Jenkins was fired.

If they change that this year, Iisalo could keep the job, and fans might be very excited for the future.

The Grizzlies have a lot of young, strong talent, and they could be champions within a few years.

Therefore, many coaches will be drawn to the possibility of leading them.

But Jenkins’ firing proves that this job is high stakes and the NBA can be very unforgiving.

The post Odds Show A Clear Favorite To Be Grizzlies Next Head Coach appeared first on The Cold Wire.