Taylor Jenkins, Bucks Reportedly Finalizing Contract as New HC After Doc Rivers' Exit

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly found their next head coach.

ESPN's Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne reported Thursday they are hiring Taylor Jenkins:

The position was open after Doc Rivers announced he was stepping down as head coach following the 2025-26 season.

"I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee," he said. "... I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and the community. Milwaukee will always mean a lot to me, and this chapter will hold a special place in my heart."

Rivers joined the Bucks as a consultant to then-head coach Adrian Griffin during the 2023-24 campaign and eventually took over the position following Griffin's firing and a three-game interim stint by Joe Prunty.

Milwaukee lost in the first round of the playoffs that season and again in 2024-25. It missed the playoffs entirely on the way to a 32-50 record this past season, which marked the first time it failed to qualify for the postseason in 10 years.

Injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard contributed to the early playoff exits during Rivers' tenure, and Antetokounmpo was limited to 36 games this past season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Throws It Down

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Milwaukee is also looking at something of a dire long-term future, as it does not have full control of its first-round draft pick until 2031 following previous trades for Lillard and Jrue Holiday. The Antetokounmpo situation is even more concerning after he was in trade rumors leading up to the February deadline before an apparent rift with the organization dominated headlines down the stretch of the 2025-26 season.

Charania summarized the "fractured relationship" between star player and organization in April and noted Antetokounmpo refused Milwaukee's request to shut him down for the rest of the season after he suffered a hyperextended left knee on March 15.

The NBA investigated the situation, and a league spokesperson said on April 4, "there is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation."

For his part, the 10-time All-Star told reporters on April 3, "For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it's like a slap in my face. I'm available to play, but I'm not in the game. I'm available to play today. Right now. I'm available. So, I don't know where the relationship goes from there."

According to Charania, Antetokounmpo wanted to share the court with his brothers, Thanasis and Alex, but did not get the chance to do so as he remained sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

The future Hall of Famer is under contract for 2026-27 and then has a player option for 2027-28, so he may have a limited future at best with the team.

Given the limited draft capital at their disposal and the Antetokounmpo situation hovering over the franchise, Jenkins is staring at a daunting task as he looks to lead the Bucks back into playoff contender.

Even with Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee is likely a step behind many of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference as currently constructed.

Expectations aren't that high at the start of the new coach's tenure, but it will be up to him to exceed them starting in 2026-27.

At least he is somewhat familiar with the organization after serving as an assistant coach in 2018-19 before taking the head coaching position with the Memphis Grizzlies for the next six seasons.

Jenkins went 250-214 in those six seasons and made the playoffs in three consecutive years from 2021 through 2023. He will now look to replicate that type of success in his second stop as a head coach.