Overview

• Tuomas Iisalo has been officially named the Memphis Grizzlies' head coach after serving as interim coach since late March.
• The 42-year-old Helsinki native becomes the first Finnish-born head coach in NBA history.
• Iisalo guided the Grizzlies to a 4-5 finish in the regular season and a play-in tournament victory, though the team was swept in the first round by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
• He brings a decorated European coaching résumé, including a 2024 EuroCup championship and Coach of the Year honors with Paris Basketball.
• The Grizzlies aim to build around their core trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane under Iisalo's disciplined and tenacious system.