The injury-depleted (and Morad-suspended) Grizzlies are now 1-8 after their loss to the Jazz (121-127). However, the referee of that particular game stripped Taylor Jenkins, who threw an incredible tantrum at the press conference.

The trigger was the ejection of Jaren Jackson in the third period, when the Grizzlies forward/center yelled at the referees for a flagrant foul that he had called and not called (as the Jazz players clapped his hands). Basically, the following applies to this phase:

In this particular phase, Jenkins first received a technical penalty and then Jackson, who was screaming because he was hit on two consecutive attacks without winning a foul, was ejected. And it’s this phase that would lead Jenkins to one of the most epic press conference outbursts of all time, with a nearly three-minute monologue.

Specifically, Jenkins said:

“It was one of the worst games I’ve ever seen from referees, it was terrible. Jaren Jackson played 23 minutes, he played all night, he is one of the most professional players, and he is sent off with a double technical penalty under the pretext of making a threatening movement towards the referee.

What he (ss Jackson) did is called de-escalation. 29-13 shots and I’m not that kind of coach. I’m not a coach who talks about these things. I did it again. Our team does its best and that’s it? The way we deal with the referees shows a complete lack of respect for us. I know what comes next. It’s incredible how they play when I try to talk to them to defend my players who give everything.

Jaren Jackson is a professional. And if you look at what happened, two attacks in a row hit his hands and he didn’t get a foul. I won’t say he has the name to win it, but look at the game. 29 shots for essentially 7 shots since they only gave us some in the end. I don’t understand it when the players give me everything.

I know we have to do a better job defensively. However, when we try to talk to the referees, I can see the reactions. What are we doing here? Our players do their best. We have to play better, I have to become a better coach. But I don’t understand what happened today.

I’ll go back to the referees’ reactions when we spoke to them. They freeze and ignore us and then you wonder why our players are having problems. I do not get it. I can’t wait to watch the VIDEO and see what reaction I get when I send it to the referees association.

I haven’t done it in my entire career, but I have to do it to protect my players so we don’t lose our heads. We have to play better, but not only we have to play better, others have to play too. Look at the numbers, watch the VIDEO. I’d like to sit down and talk some more, but I’ll leave it at that.

Look at Jenkins’ outburst: