Report: Bucks showing serious interest in ex-Grizzlies coach Jenkins

A familiar face could succeed Doc Rivers behind the Milwaukee Bucks' bench.

Milwaukee has serious interest in hiring former Memphis Grizzlies bench boss Taylor Jenkins as its next head coach, sources told The Athletic's Sam Amick and Eric Nehm.

Jenkins reportedly met with Bucks owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam and general manager Jon Horst in Memphis last week to discuss the vacancy, and the two sides are expected to meet again.

Prior to taking over in Memphis, Jenkins was a longtime assistant under Mike Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks and followed him to Milwaukee for the 2018-19 campaign. The Bucks won 60 games and topped the Eastern Conference that season, but they were eliminated by the eventual champions, the Toronto Raptors, in the conference finals. Weeks later, the Grizzlies hired Jenkins.

The 41-year-old went 250-214 in Memphis before being abruptly fired in March 2025 toward the end of his sixth season. At the time, the Grizzlies had lost five of seven games and dropped from fourth to sixth in the West but remained well on pace to reach the postseason. Under the guidance of then-interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo, they fell into the play-in tournament after going 4-5 to end the regular season and were eventually swept in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Bucks are in need of a new head coach after Rivers stepped down last Monday following three turbulent seasons at the helm. The organization is also gearing up for what could be an uncomfortable offseason with franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275-million extension if he's still with the Bucks come October. However, the relationship between both parties appeared to fray this season when the 31-year-old alleged that he was being held out by the team despite wanting to play. The comments sparked an investigation by the league office, which remains ongoing.