A new figure is set to take over the Milwaukee Bucks. Sources say that the NBA team has found its next head coach.
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According to ESPN's sources, the Bucks are finalizing a deal to hire Taylor Jenkins. This would mark a reunion for Jenkins, who previously served as a Bucks assistant under head coach Mike Budenholzer in 2018-19 when the team went 60-22.
Most recently, Jenkins served as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. He took over the team in 2019 and remained in charge through the 2025 season.
The Grizzlies started Jenkins' tenure with a 34-39 record, but the team turned things around during the 2020-2021 season. The team went 38-34 and made the playoffs for the first time under Jenkins.
They then made the playoffs again in 2021-2022 after going 56-26. The third playoff appearance took place in the 2022-2023 season. The Grizzlies went 51-31.
The last two seasons, however, have seen the Grizzlies missing the playoffs while losing key players via trade or due to unexpected absences. Ja Morant, in particular, only played in 59 combined games. He served suspensions for incidents involving guns, another suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, and he missed numerous games due to injuries.
While Jenkins is the winningest coach in Grizzlies history with a record of 250-214, he did not last as head coach. The team fired him after the 2025-2026 season.
Now, he will reportedly step into a new role as he replaces Doc Rivers. The veteran coach stepped down from his position in mid-April, ending a tenure featuring 200 games and a win-loss record of 97-103 in the regular season.
He went 3-8 in the playoffs overall, but the Bucks missed the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons last year.
The expectation is that Rivers will still remain with the Bucks as the team pays his full salary for 2026-2027. He will most likely move into an advisory role as a new coach takes over the team.
