During the last couple weeks of the regular season, Doc Rivers kept dropping hints that his time as Bucks head coach would be concluding after the season, much to the fanbase’s relief. As we wait to find out if Rivers will have a future role with the team as a consultant/advisor, which had also been rumored for weeks, let’s take an early look at the scuttlebutt. At the moment, there are technically two current vacancies in the NBA because New Orleans’ James Borrego (more on him later) is an interim,
but some in league circles believe a lot more openings are ahead, perhaps more than eight. If Milwaukee has more competition later, it probably makes sense to start the interviews ASAP before other teams, particularly those in the playoffs or play-in get going.
Despite what Jon Horst may say publicly, though, any interviewee will want some clarity on what’s happening with Giannis. They (and we) may not get that during initial rounds, but a big tell as to Giannis’ future in Milwaukee may come during this search. His input and involvement—or lack thereof—this time would be a major indicator of whether he sees a future in a Bucks uniform, as trade rumors consistently dog the franchise.
During the last two full coaching searches the Bucks have conducted during offseasons in 2018 (Mike Budenholzer) and 2023 (Adrian Griffin), Giannis entered the conversation once the finalists were selected. Before Bud’s hiring was made official, he had breakfast with Giannis and Khris Middleton, presumably so the front office got their sign-off on what must have been their preferred candidate. Griffin was reportedly not the front office’s first choice in 2023, but it’s believed Giannis met with him and the other finalists before a decision was made, who were Nick Nurse—Horst’s preference—and Kenny Atkinson. Ultimately, the Bucks went with Giannis’ choice in Griff, whose tenure in Milwaukee was hugely problematic and lasted 43 games.
It’s my hope that Horst—who doesn’t appear to be going anywhere this offseason, especially after signing an extension last summer—can hire who he wants this go-around, and many fans would probably agree. Reports indicated in January 2024 that he was again overruled when it came time to replace Griffin, with ownership choosing Doc Rivers. While some understandably assumed that was a Jimmy Haslam-led move, I’ve heard from a team source that it was driven by co-owner and governor Wes Edens. Horst wanted Atkinson. If 2018 was indeed the only time Horst had full autonomy to make a coaching hire, the fact that he nailed it then, plus had clearly better preferences in 2023 and 2024, means it should be only his decision in 2026.
Onto the scuttle. Beginning with a former Bucks assistant: a full week before Rivers was confirmed to be stepping down, Marc Stein wrote that ex-Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins “has already emerged as a likely prime candidate” for what was then not yet an opening. Jake Fischer, also of The Stein Line, confirmed that and stated Jenkins could be someone the Wizards look at if they move on from Brian Keefe.
If Jenkins emerges as a true candidate, a fair bit might be made about his connection with Giannis and what bringing an old assistant back might mean. But this would be too deep a read: Jenkins was in Milwaukee just one season, coming over with Bud after five years in Atlanta. So I doubt he developed much of a relationship with Giannis, or even Horst, in that limited tenure. Here, he was really only known as the guy who hilariously held the bench back from getting on the court if there was the potential for a skirmish.
It came as a surprise that this little-known assistant emerged as a serious head coaching candidate in summer 2019, but he did a fine job in Memphis with two 50-win seasons and a winning record in nearly six full seasons. He was fired with nine games remaining last spring, 15 games over .500, amid talk of a disconnect with players. Though, to be fair, the Grizz front office insisted Jenkins swap out five of his longtime assistants prior to the season with their handpicked replacements. So he was being put in a bad situation, to say nothing of Memphis’ many injuries and Ja Morant-induced woes in recent seasons.
Another Bud disciple is longtime Buck assistant Darvin Ham, who rejoined the franchise in 2024 after a two-year stint running the Lakers. There, he won an NBA Cup and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in his first year, finishing with a 90-74 record. He was Bud’s top lieutenant in Milwaukee after five years in Atlanta, and was hailed by big men Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis as a key voice on the staff. So he had a lot to do with the 2021 championship. He took over for a COVID-stricken Bud to notch a win in 2022, and guided a Giannis-less Bucks to an impressive victory over the defending champs in February while Doc was away from the team.
Fischer mentioned that Ham would be in the running for the Magic gig if Jamahl Mosely isn’t retained following the conclusion of their playoff run, and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype says the Pelicans will pursue him too. The Big Easy is where Borrego just wrapped up 70 games as the interim guy, taking over after Willie Green was fired in November. New Orleans has begun searching for a permanent head coach already, and Borrego remains in consideration per Stein and Fischer. Borrego interviewed with Milwaukee in 2023, though he wasn’t selected as a finalist. He’s twice been an interim replacement (also with Orlando in 2015 for 30 games) and only a full head coach in Charlotte from 2018–21. It wasn’t until the last of those four seasons that the Hornets finished above .500, but they still missed the playoffs.
Much like we did in 2023, in the coming weeks we’ll take a broader look at candidates, including these names and more speculative candidates. As far as the latter goes, if there is anyone you’re interested in, rumored or otherwise, the comments section would be a good place to let us know. If they’re a viable name (i.e., not a current head coach whose team wouldn’t want to give them up), we’ll discuss them.
