Milwaukee is finalizing a deal to hire Taylor Jenkins, with the Bucks’ next steps—especially around Giannis Antetokounmpo—now set to shape a defining summer.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly closing in on a new direction on the coaching front, with Taylor Jenkins emerging as the leading candidate to take over the head coaching job after Doc Rivers’ exit.
That matters because the hire won’t be viewed in isolation. A franchise that just snapped a nine-year playoff streak now needs a clear identity fast—both on the floor and in the way it navigates its most important question of the offseason: the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Reports indicate the Bucks are finalizing terms with Jenkins. a coach with a long track record of getting teams to contend.. Jenkins spent six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019 to 2025. compiling a 250–214 record and earning playoff appearances in three consecutive seasons from 2021 to 2023.
Jenkins’ Memphis run ended abruptly in 2024–25.. With nine games left. the Grizzlies fired him. and Memphis subsequently fell in the first round to Oklahoma City. the eventual champion. in what turned out to be a quick postseason exit.. Even so. his overall profile remained tied to development and structure—qualities that tend to be valued by teams searching for stability rather than short-term fixes.
For Milwaukee, this would also be more than just a new staff hire.. Jenkins previously worked as an assistant coach for the Bucks during the 2018–19 season under Mike Budenholzer. a connection that can reduce the friction that often comes with leadership change.. That familiarity matters in an NBA where timing and expectations are unforgiving. especially when a roster is trying to adjust after a disappointing stretch.
The context behind Milwaukee’s urgency is straightforward: the Bucks finished 32–50 this season. marking a steep drop from the sustained success that defined most of the past decade.. When a team ends a playoff run that long, it usually triggers more than coaching conversations.. It reshapes how front offices evaluate talent, roles, and whether their stars can still carry the same championship-level load.
That brings the spotlight to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains the center of gravity for Milwaukee’s long-term plan.. The two-time MVP is 31 and can become a free agent after next season unless he signs a four-year. $275 million contract extension in October.. If the Bucks believe he’s unlikely to commit. they could also consider trading him beforehand—an option no team wants to contemplate. but one that becomes more realistic the longer uncertainty lingers.
Antetokounmpo addressed extension talks after Milwaukee’s season finale. indicating that the decision involves careful family discussions and weighing what’s best for both him and the franchise.. Those comments underline the human element behind what is often treated like a purely business calculation.. For Milwaukee, the goal is to remove distractions and make the next era feel coherent—starting with the coach.
From an analytical standpoint. Jenkins’ potential fit hinges on what Milwaukee needs most right now: consistent offense. sharper game management. and a system that can absorb roster variance without losing its core.. His Memphis teams were known for clarity in roles and a willingness to build through execution rather than relying only on improvisation.. That kind of approach can be particularly valuable for a team rebuilding confidence after a season where the playoffs slipped away.
The offseason now has a domino effect.. If Milwaukee finalizes Jenkins quickly. the organization gains a chance to define expectations before the most important personnel decision of the year—Giannis’ next contract step.. And if the Bucks can align coaching philosophy with the star’s timeline. the franchise may avoid a summer that feels like damage control.
Still, the stakes are high.. A coaching change is only the first move in what could become a rare reshaping of Milwaukee’s identity.. Whether Jenkins can restore traction and whether Antetokounmpo chooses to extend will likely determine how this “reset” is remembered: as a short detour toward a return to contention. or the beginning of a more dramatic transformation.