The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring veteran coach Taylor Jenkins to take over their franchise in the wake of the departed Doc Rivers. Jenkins coached six years for the Memphis Grizzlies between 2019 and 2025, compiling a 250-214 regular-season record, leading his team to three postseason appearances in the process. Before that he served as an assistant coach with the Bucks and Atlanta Hawks for six total seasons.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported the news.
The Bucks struggled through a 32-50 regular season
in 2025-26, failing to make the playoffs despite the presence of perpetual All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 31-year-old star is rumored to be in an on-again, off-again relationship with Milwaukee, having repeatedly stated that his main goal at this point in his career is winning. Jenkins’ year as a Bucks assistant happened while Antetokounmpo was on the roster, so the two have a prior relationship.
The Portland Trail Blazers have a direct interest in the fate of the Bucks. Portland owns Milwaukee’s 2029 first-round pick and has the right to swap first-round picks with them in 2028 and 2030, courtesy of the 2023 trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Wisconsin franchise. The worse the Bucks perform between 2027 and 2030, the better those assets look for Portland.
