According to multiple reports, there was a growing feeling around the league that Taylor Jenkins was going to be fired in the offseason.

The timing was very surprising, but the firing was not for many people associated with the NBA. In fact, it was almost expected he wouldn’t return for the next season.

Why the feeling was growing so much was due to Memphis overhauling his coaching staff and completely cutting him out for the future.

“The anticipation was they’d get bounced in the first round and he’d be fired,” said Tim MacMahon on Monday’s Hoop Collective Podcast. “That’s honestly been the anticipation since last summer. All season long. Like the odds of Taylor Jenkins coming back next year were very slim. But to be fired with nine games left in the season… a playoff team. Yeah, the timing was shocking.”

Jenkins was their head coach for six seasons before getting canned, he was hired back in 2019 to replace current Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff before they selected Ja Morant with the second overall pick.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns will be without Kevin Durant for at least one week due to suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Houston Rockets.

In the middle of the third quarter, Durant completely rolled his left ankle, which resulted in a bad sprain. He was seen in tremendous pain, visible limping, and needing helped to the locker room.

Phoenix only have seven games remaining, as Durant is scheduled to miss their upcoming three-game road trip. They’ll be facing the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks.

The Suns are 1.5 games out of tenth, which is currently occupied by the Sacramento Kings. The Dallas Mavericks have moved into the ninth seed in the Western Conference.

Before head coach Taylor Jenkins was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies, he answered questions from the media, one particularly concerning Ja Morant.

Morant, who has missed six straight games, has been dealing with an injured hamstring.

The good news is that he has made “great progress” and is considered day-to-day.

“Last two weeks, he’s made a lot of great progress,” said Jenkins. “And he’s working his tail off to get back out there.”

This season, Morant has appeared in 43 games this season. The 25-year-old is averaging 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.