The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach, replacing Doc Rivers. Jenkins previously served as an assistant coach for the Bucks and coached the Memphis Grizzlies.
Key points
Milwaukee Bucks hire Taylor Jenkins as new head coach
Jenkins replaces Doc Rivers
Jenkins previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies
He was an assistant coach for the Bucks under Mike Budenholzer
Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the team is uncertain
Mentioned in this story
Taylor JenkinsGiannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee BucksMemphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks hire Taylor Jenkins as new coach: Grades, reaction
A solid B, and it's not higher partially for reasons out of Jenkins' control.
Not only is Jenkins perhaps the best available coaching candidate with experience after leading the Grizzlies to the NBA playoffs three times and becoming the franchise's all-time leader in wins during his six-season tenure in Memphis, he's also uniquely positioned to serve the Bucks as they confront their Antetokounmpo-related crossroads.
Q&A
Who is the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks?
The new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks is Taylor Jenkins.
What was Taylor Jenkins' previous coaching position before joining the Bucks?
Before joining the Bucks, Taylor Jenkins was the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.
What challenges will Taylor Jenkins face as the new coach of the Bucks?
Taylor Jenkins will face challenges related to Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the team and addressing the Bucks' disappointing record from the past season.
Why did the Milwaukee Bucks hire Taylor Jenkins?
The Milwaukee Bucks hired Taylor Jenkins to bring familiarity and experience, as he previously served as an assistant coach with the team.
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If Antetokounmpo is playing for the Bucks again next season, Jenkins has experience working with him under Budenholzer during the 2018-19 NBA campaign when Antetokounmpo won his first MVP award and the Bucks lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Toronto Raptors. If Antetokounmpo gets traded elsewhere and the Bucks go into rebuilding mode, Jenkins has a strong reputation setting a culture and developing young players from his time with the Grizzlies.
Jenkins, however, struggled to get the Grizzlies over the hump as contenders with the core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane succumbing to bad injury luck, immaturity and poor half-court offense in the postseason. Jenkins still must prove he's a championship-caliber coach in Milwaukee.
But like with so many things related to the Bucks at the moment, the trajectory of this hire will depend on the immediate decision facing the front office and Antetokounmpo.
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
The shoes of Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
Shoes worn by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
The Nike Lebron XXIII shoes worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Houston Rockets in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, at Crypto.com Arena.
Shoes worn by Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
The shoes of Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
1 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
1 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
2 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
3 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
4 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
5 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The Nike Lebron XXIII shoes worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Houston Rockets in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, at Crypto.com Arena.
6 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
7 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
8 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
9 / 9
Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
Grizzlies General Manager Zach Kleiman stunned the NBA when he fired Jenkins on March 28, 2025 with just nine games remaining in the regular season. Memphis struggled to a 9-13 record over his final 22 games, a stretch in which it did not defeat a team with a record above .500. It came on the heels of Jenkins instituting a staff overhaul the previous offseason at the behest of the Grizzlies' front office.
Jenkins, 41, compiled a 250-214 overall record over six seasons as the Grizzlies coach. He made the NBA playoffs three times and advanced to the conference semifinals once in 2022, when he also finished second in NBA coach of the year voting.
He was previously an assistant for Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks for five seasons and got his start within the San Antonio Spurs organization, including one season as the head coach of its NBA Development League team (2012-13)
