The Milwaukee Bucks are finalizing a deal to hire Taylor Jenkins as their next head coach, replacing Doc Rivers who stepped down after three seasons marked by inconsistency and a deteriorating relationship with franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jenkins, 41, returns to Milwaukee where he served as a lead assistant under Mike Budenholzer during the 2018-19 season, a year in which the Bucks posted the league’s best record at 60-22 and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. His familiarity with the organization and Antetokounmpo’s playing style was cited by multiple sources as a key factor in the hiring decision.
Over six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Jenkins compiled a 250-214 record (.539 winning percentage), leading the team to the playoffs in four of those years, including a Western Conference semifinals appearance in 2021-22 after a 56-win season. He was fired with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite a 44-29 record, a move ESPN described as stemming from struggles to maintain consistency despite the winning mark.
His tenure in Memphis included overseeing the development of Ja Morant, the 2020 first-round pick who became Rookie of the Year, though the team endured two losing seasons — 34-39 in his first year and 27-55 in 2023-24 — due largely to injuries to Morant and other key players. Jenkins took a year away from coaching before entering negotiations with the Bucks.
The timing of the hire coincides with a pivotal offseason for Milwaukee, which finished the 2025-26 season at 32-50, just outside the playoff picture and 29th in the league in points per game. Antetokounmpo, now 31, has repeatedly hinted at a potential trade request over the past year, creating uncertainty about his long-term future with the franchise.
Jenkins’ background offers the Bucks flexibility: his prior experience with Antetokounmpo suggests he can quickly integrate into a system built around the two-time MVP, whereas his track record in Memphis demonstrates an ability to guide a young, developing team through a rebuild — a relevant skill should the front office decide to move on from its star.
Budenholzer, who coached Jenkins in both San Antonio and Atlanta and brought him to Milwaukee in 2018, praised his work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to communicate a clear vision while allowing players freedom within it. “He’s just an incredible, incredible human,” Budenholzer told the Journal Sentinel in 2019, adding that Jenkins “makes a train keep moving.”
The Bucks enter the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery with the 10th-worst record in the league, meaning they will select in the lottery but cannot secure the No. 1 overall pick due to the Atlanta Hawks owning the better of the two picks between Milwaukee and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans’ pick currently holds 6.8% odds to land in the top four, a scenario the Bucks would necessitate both their own and New Orleans’ selections to improve for a chance at a top-four selection.
With the draft approaching, the franchise faces pressure to clarify Antetokounmpo’s future before draft night, as the decision will shape whether they target a franchise-altering talent or pursue complementary pieces in a potential retool.
How does Taylor Jenkins’ history with Giannis Antetokounmpo influence the hiring?
Jenkins worked directly with Antetokounmpo as a lead assistant during the 2018-19 season, giving him firsthand knowledge of how to structure offensive and defensive schemes around the star’s unique skill set, which the Bucks view as an asset whether they retain or trade him.
Why was Taylor Jenkins fired by the Memphis Grizzlies despite a winning record?
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