Memphis Grizzlies made Tuomas Iisalo's stay behind the counter on Friday, named Grizzlies' head coach permanent.
General Manager Zach Kleiman said in a statement, “Tuomas'a Memphis Grizzlies as the head coach I fully trust.” He said. “TUOMAS teams at all levels are disciplined, stubborn and dependent on both ends of the floor, constantly exceeded expectations. We expect the same thing in Memphis.”
Despite the club's 44-29 record at the time, Grizzlies fired the head coach Taylor Jenkins on 28 March and elected Iisalo Temporary Head Coach.
Under Iisalo, Grizzlies went 4-5, finished 48-34 in the normal season, and in the first round, he made playoffs through the play-in tournament before he was sweeping Oklahoma City Thunder.
42 -year -old Iisalo joined Grizzlies as an assistant under the direction of Jenkins. In 2024, as the head coach of Paris Basketball, he served as the coach of the eurocup year in the local Finland.
The rental makes it the first NBA coach born in Finland.
Iisalo, a 14 -year professional play career in Finland, has big shoes to be filled. 40-year-old Jenkins is the most winning coach in Grizzlies' franchise history with a record of 250-214 with a three playoff match since his recruitment in June 2019.
-FELD level media
