The Milwaukee Bucks did not hide how they feel about Taylor Jenkins.
For co-owner Wes Edens, the new coach isn’t just a new voice. He’s the move that changes the feel of the offseason.
“I think [Jenkins] may be the biggest addition in the NBA offseason as far as I'm concerned. He was the guy that we wanted.
We signed him to a long-term contract... He's a known quantity to us because he was here before, then went off and had lots of success in Memphis...
You take that and a refresh of the organization and it's a really exciting time.”
That’s a pretty strong statement, but it also matches the mood around Milwaukee after a summer of change. The Bucks were ready to move on from Doc Rivers, and media day made it clear that the organization sees Jenkins as a major upgrade.
Kyle Kuzma pointed to the finger-pointing that defined last season, and the overall sense was hard to miss: the Rivers era left the Bucks wanting more. Injuries played their part, but the issues went deeper than that. Accountability, energy and modern ideas were not consistently there.
Jenkins, by contrast, arrives with a different reputation. From the start, he’s been talking about accountability and growth, especially with a younger group that needs structure. That message landed as a welcome change after a couple of seasons in which those demands weren’t always present.
The Bucks are not being sold as automatic contenders right now, and no one in the room sounded like they were pretending otherwise. But there is a real belief that this group can be competitive enough to make noise, even without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jenkins’ track record in Memphis is a big reason for that optimism. He got successful Grizzlies teams moving with a roster that was still finding itself, and Milwaukee is hoping that same touch carries over here.
The personnel around him gives him something to work with, too. The Bucks have an All-Star in Tyler Herro, rising guards in Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, a quality starter in Myles Turner, and a strong supporting cast.
That kind of setup would have felt less interesting under Rivers. With Jenkins in charge, it feels different. It feels like there’s a direction again.
If Milwaukee gets rolling, Jenkins should put himself right into the Coach of the Year conversation. For now, the Bucks sound like a team that believes it finally has the right person steering the ship.
In Other News...
Draymond Green Just Turned Bucks Anxiety Into A Bigger Debate
Draymond Green has a way of turning one teams uncomfortable week into a league-wide conversation, and the Bucks found themselves in that spot after he weighed in on two separate podcast episodes. One topic was Tyler Herros photoshoot tribute to T.J. Ford, which Green criticized, and the other was the NBAs investigation into Milwaukee over possible salary cap circumvention involving Gary Trent Jr. Together, the remarks added another layer of scrutiny to a franchise already drawing attention for reasons it would rather keep quiet.
Green also spent time talking through what the league could do if the Bucks are found guilty, raising the stakes around a probe that is still hanging over the organization. His comments quickly became a point of debate for fans and former players alike, with the photoshoot criticism and the investigation both feeding a broader argument about how Milwaukee is being viewed right now. For a team trying to stay focused on basketball, the noise around it does not seem likely to fade soon. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Suddenly Have A Real Shot In Jalen Duren Drama
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has become one of the more intriguing items on the NBA radar, and the Bucks are among the teams watching closely. The Pistons put a massive offer on the table, but Duren declined it, and theres now a looming deadline tied to a qualifying offer that could shape his next move. What made the whole thing even more notable was the inclusion of a weight clause in Detroits proposal, a detail that reportedly caught Duren and his camp off guard.
For Milwaukee, the appeal is obvious. The Bucks have shown interest, and any real opening around a young center with upside is worth monitoring, especially when the players current team is dealing with internal debate about his value. Whether Detroit can repair the relationship, or whether Duren decides his best path lies elsewhere, should come into focus soon, and the Bucks will be waiting to see how much of a shot this really becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Frontcourt Plan Could Change Myles Turners Role In A Hurry
The Bucks frontcourt is already a moving target, and now another name has entered the picture. According to The Athletics Sam Amick, Milwaukee is one of two teams seriously interested in Detroit center Jalen Duren, a powerful young big man whose game would bring a different kind of presence to the paint. The report also notes that Myles Turner could be part of the conversation if Milwaukee decided to get creative with a deal, though Detroit has not engaged in talks.
For the Bucks, the appeal is obvious because Durens physical style would give the front line a harder edge and could reshape how the team wants to play under coach Taylor Jenkins. The complication is just as obvious: Milwaukee would have to decide whether adding that force inside is worth changing the role of an established veteran center, and for now the Pistons are not making it easy to find out where any of this goes next. [Read more 🡒]