LAS VEGAS — The Memphis Grizzlies are hiring Ryan Saunders as the new lead assistant coach, sources confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on July 14
Saunders, the son of former NBA coach Flip Saunders, has spent time with three NBA teams as an assistant. He also was the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves for three seasons (2018-21).
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He spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, helping them win the NBA title in the 2022-23 season.
Saunders, 39, is the second assistant coach hired this offseason by Memphis as coach Tuomas Iisalo revamps his staff. The Grizzlies parted ways with Anthony Carter, who was with the team the past two seasons. Carter often received praise from the players, and notably worked closely with GG Jackson during his breakout rookie season, tweaking his jumper mechanics.
Iisalo and the Grizzlies brought in Brian “Penny” Collins, who was previously the men’s basketball head coach at Tennessee State University. Collins has been coaching with the Grizzlies during summer league.
“He’s doing a great job,” Iisalo said of Collins. “His energy is contagious. He really connects with everybody. He also has head coaching experience, so he has a wide variety of things he excels at, and we’re very happy to have him.”
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The hirings of Collins and Saunders are signs of the Grizzlies’ preference of adding those with head coaching experience.
Saunders also has familiarity with recent Grizzlies acquisition Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The two overlapped for two seasons in Denver, including the championship campaign.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies coaching update: Memphis hires Ryan Saunders as new assistant