New head coach Taylor Jenkins faces a daunting task in rejuvenating the floundering Milwaukee Bucks, who are coming off a disappointing season that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the franchise up in the air.
The Bucks took the unusual step of introducing Jenkins as the franchise’s third coach since the firing of Mike Budenholzer in 2023, at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The event was open to public, drawing a large throng of fans who packed the spectacular atrium of the Quadracci Pavilion as the waters of Lake Michigan rippled in the background.
“This is a full-circle moment for me and my family. We’re home,” said Jenkins, who served one year (2018-19) as an assistant coach on Budenholzer’s Bucks’ staff that won a league-high 60 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000-01.
“I’m confident that we’re going to build something special together. As I step into this role, I understand the great responsibility of representing this world-class organization, the great city of Milwaukee and the great state of Wisconsin. I know firsthand how important the Bucks are to this fan base and to this community, because in my one season here, Milwaukee made a profound and lasting impact on me and my family.”
Several Bucks players, including fan favorite Bobby Portis, Myles Turner, AJ Green, Pete Nance and Cormac Ryan, attended the event.
“I love the depth of this team, even in small sample sizes. Just seeing how much amazing talent there is – I see a competitive nature there, and that’s what I want to unlock even more,” Jenkins said. “When we talk about culture and identity, those aren’t just loose terms that we throw out there. It’s going to be the embodiment of who these guys are and as coaches, who we are as teachers. There’s versatility, both offensively and defensively, from the vets on the rosters to the young guys who got tremendous opportunities over the course of the season. That’s something I’ll focus on. I’ve got a game plan and a vision. I’ve got a style of play in mind that will unlock even more for these guys.”
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Jenkins, the franchise’s 19th head coach, also had a message directed specifically to Bucks fans, including those who loudly cheered him as he was introduced.
“I’m grateful for your support and can’t wait to feel your passion and energy again,” he said. “As my family and I get settled here in Milwaukee, I want you to know this about us. We are making Milwaukee our home. My wife, kids and I are so excited to reconnect with this community.”
Jenkins replaces Doc Rivers, who took over as Bucks head coach in January 2024, supplanting first-year coach Adrian Griffin, who was fired despite leading Milwaukee to a 30-13 record at that point.
After winning the NBA championship in 2021, the Bucks’ first in 50 years and just the second ever, the franchise has struggled at times, most notably in the post-season. After reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals the season after capturing the title, the Bucks were eliminated in the first round in each of the next three seasons, in part because of an aging roster and injuries to key players, including Antetokounmpo.
Rivers compiled a 97-103 record and a 3-8 playoff record with the Bucks. He stepped down last month, a day after the conclusion of the Bucks’ 32-50 season.
The team’s search landed squarely on the affable and respected Jenkins, who coached the Memphis Grizzlies for just short of six seasons ending in 2025 and who many viewed as the top available coach on the market.
“We knew who we wanted to hire as our coach, and it was Taylor Jenkins,” Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said. “Every reference was outstanding. It was a no-brainer for us. What you’re getting is a really high-character guy, smart guy, knows basketball, has a reputation for being a great defensive coach, but also for developing players. He is competitive as heck. I won’t guarantee we’ll win every game. We won’t. But I promise you this: When you leave that night, you won’t be disappointed in our in our effort.”
Jenkins takes over with the uncertain status of Antetokounmpo hanging over the franchise. Antetokounmpo played in just 36 games in the recently completed season due to various injuries. The 2025-26 campaign ended in a public spat with Antetokounmpo claiming he was healthy and ready to get back on the court, but he ended up missing final 15 games of the season. The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo has played all 13 seasons in Milwaukee after being drafted by Milwaukee with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
Haslam, who along with his wife, Dee, are majority owners of the Cleveland Browns, purchased Marc Lasry’s 25% stake in the Bucks in April 2023. He said Wednesday that he plans to spend more time in Milwaukee focusing on the Bucks business. Haslam said there will be discussions with Antetokounmpo over the next few weeks ahead of the June 23 NBA draft to determine his future and whether the “Greek Freak” will remain in a Bucks uniform.
Antetokounmpo has one year of team control at $58.4 million left on his contract and owns a $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 season. He’s eligible to sign another four-year maximum extension on Oct. 1, worth up to $275 million. For months, Antetokounmpo has the been the subject of trade speculation.
“Giannis brought Milwaukee its second championship and first in 50 years. He’s a phenomenal player, he’s a phenomenal person and he’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world,” Haslam said. “We will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization. We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”
General manager Jon Horst said, unlike with past hires, Antetokounmpo wasn’t consulted regarding the hiring of Jenkins.
“It was clear to us that we needed a hire to have as a partner with our organization going forward to build sustainable success for years to come in Milwaukee, and in this situation, it wasn’t about Giannis,” Horst said. “I asked none of the players. In years past, we talked to a lot of players to seek counsel. Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong. This was about hiring Taylor Jenkins. We had a tight list of candidates. We vetted it and in our first step of the process we engaged Taylor.”
Jenkins said he’s been in contact with Antetokounmpo, along with all other players on the roster, since taking the job.
“I’ve had great communication with Giannis. He’s expressed tremendous excitement for me and my family,” Jenkins said. “It’s been amazing to be able to communicate with all these guys over the phone and now in person. As you learn more about me, relationships are the most important thing to me in my life.”
Horst also addressed the challengers of the past season.
“We’re very proud of, very grateful for the success that we’ve had for a long time,” he said. “We’ve talked for years about sustained success, having a chance year and year out. And I think almost every year, if not every year, we’ve had a real chance. You have to be healthy. Things have to fall in the right place. It’s hard to go through a season like we went through, but the benefit is you get to learn a lot. You learn a lot about things that work, things that don’t work. You get to be self-reflective.”
Horst said he expects to see changes under Jenkins’ leadership.
“It’s clear to me that we need to do the things that Taylor’s talking about – not just say them, but do them,” Horst said. “We need to hold each other accountable. We have to be competitive over everything. Style of play is important.”
Jenkins said his message will, at its core, be simple.
“We’re going to be the most competitive team,” he said. “It’s not just how hard you play. It’s your preparation, it’s your execution. It’s the sacrifice that you make, your willingness to go the extra mile in all areas of player development and get this team to be the best version of itself. We’re also going to have fun doing it.”
Jenkins, a Dallas native, spent six seasons (2019-25) becoming the Grizzlies franchise’s winningest coach, compiling a 250-214 (.539) record. He was fired on March 28, 2025, just nine games before the playoffs.
His Memphis teams reached the playoffs in four of those campaigns and tied a franchise record with 56 wins in the 2021-22 season, when he finished runner-up in the NBA Coach of the Year award balloting.
Before joining the Bucks, Jenkins spent five seasons (2013-18) under Budenholzer as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks.
Jenkins attended The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in economics. He and his wife, Chantall, have three sons and one daughter, all of whom were on hand on Wednesday.
