Until recently, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was not thought of as a coach killer. But thanks to the firing of David Fizdale as head coach of the team earlier this week, the perception of Gasol using his stature on the team to influence top management’s decisions on a coach’s job has intensified.

It might have also added context to the banishment of Dave Joerger as head coach of the team last year, per Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.

There was a particularly rough patch during the Grizzlies’ 2015-16 season — coach Dave Joerger’s final campaign at the helm — when a level of paranoia crept into the coaching staff.

Joerger approached the team’s beat writer in an unusually frank manner with a major concern during the middle of a west coast trip.

“I think Marc’s trying to get me fired,” Joerger said, referring to Marc Gasol.

Joerger coached the Grizzlies for three seasons from 2013 to 2016 with the team making the playoffs each year of that span. However, he was handed the pink slip last year after the team was booted out of playoffs in the first round.

Whether Marc Gasol had a hand in Dave Joerger losing his job or not, the Grizzlies remain in shaky ground following the dismissal of Fizdale. It might be smart for interim Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to watch his back.