Bucks meet with Taylor Jenkins about head coach opening: Sources

The Milwaukee Bucks have registered serious interest in Taylor Jenkins to be their next head coach, league sources tell The Athletic. 

Team owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam and general manager Jon Horst made their way to Memphis, where the former Grizzlies head coach still resides with his family, early last week to discuss their head coach opening and a vision for the future with Jenkins in Milwaukee, those sources said.

While there is no deal in place and contract figures have not been discussed, the two sides are expected to meet again soon to further discuss the opening.

Jenkins, 41, was the head coach of the Grizzlies from 2019 to 2025, compiling a 250-214 record (.539) over that stretch. The Grizzlies made the playoffs in four of Jenkins’ six seasons as a head coach, including a second-round appearance in 2021-22 after tying a franchise record with 56 wins. Jenkins was not given the opportunity to coach the team in his final playoff appearance, as the organization parted ways with him with nine games remaining in the regular season.

Before taking the head coaching position in Memphis, Jenkins served as an assistant coach for the Bucks under Mike Budenholzer during the 2018-19 season, when the Bucks won 60 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.

Because Jenkins is widely considered a top candidate in the current coaching market, it remains unclear whether he will prioritize the Bucks’ opening or remain patient as other vacancies emerge. He has been linked to Orlando if the Magic decide to part ways with Jamahl Mosley, for example.

The Bucks are searching for a new head coach after Doc Rivers stepped down following a 32-50 season that saw Milwaukee miss the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. Rivers compiled a 97-103 record in two and a half seasons with the Bucks after taking over for Adrian Griffin in December of 2024. Amid injuries to former point guard Damian Lillard and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks did not advance in the playoffs in either of Rivers’ first two seasons.

In an interview with local reporters in the final week of the season, general manager Jon Horst said Rivers did a “masterful” job navigating a difficult season with injuries and rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future with the franchise. Still, Rivers decided to step down at the season’s conclusion.

In the same interview, Horst was open about the franchise still needing to decide if it plans to proceed with Antetokounmpo as the franchise centerpiece or trade the 10-time All-Star forward before next season.