Taylor Jenkins enters Milwaukee with the kind of setup that could turn a little success into a major coaching story.
The Bucks are getting little love heading into the season. In fact, the idea of finding an analyst who has them ranked anywhere above 30th in current power rankings is being treated like a rare break. That kind of skepticism sets the stage for Jenkins to become a serious Coach of the Year candidate if Milwaukee outperforms expectations in any meaningful way.
There’s no real championship case here. Even if Milwaukee adds an impact piece like Peyton Watson to finish off the roster, this doesn’t look like a team built to chase a title this season. But being better than the worst team in the league is a much more realistic goal, and Jenkins is a huge part of why that feels possible.
The Bucks hired him in part because of what he’s done with player development. With the possibility that the time to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo may be approaching, Milwaukee brought in Jenkins to serve as the voice guiding a younger group, much like he did in Memphis. He took a young Grizzlies team and helped turn it into a Western Conference contender for several years.
That background makes him a natural fit for what the Bucks have now. Milwaukee doesn’t have a superstar in the current setup, but it does have pieces to work with.
Tyler Herro is an All-Star who should have a career year. Ryan Rollins is positioned for another jump.
Brayden Burries stood out as one of the best rookies in Summer League. Myles Turner can still play.
Jenkins’ job is to squeeze the most out of all of them.
If that leads to Milwaukee making the Play-In Tournament after all the doubt that’s followed the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Jenkins should shoot straight to the front of the Coach of the Year conversation. There’s always room for chaos elsewhere around the NBA, and other candidates could emerge, but short of something wild, that would be a strong case.
Unlike teams that intentionally reset after moving a franchise player, Milwaukee has no reason to take its foot off the gas. The Bucks owe next year’s first-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans, so losing games brings no benefit. They’ll be trying to win as many as they can, and Jenkins gives them a real shot to do it.
Milwaukee’s coaching upgrade this summer has largely slipped under the radar. If the Bucks even get close to the Play-In, that won’t stay quiet for long.
In Other News...
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For Milwaukee, the intrigue is obvious: Mathurin would fit a team looking for more offensive punch and a little more upside on the wing, but any move would require real maneuvering. A sign-and-trade has been floated as one possible path, and the Bucks are among the clubs trying to position themselves if the situation in Los Angeles keeps shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Face Three Franchise Defining Calls After Their Superstar Exit
The Bucks are entering a stretch where almost every roster choice feels tied to the same larger question: how quickly can they retool after losing their superstar to Miami? The backcourt picture alone is crowded enough to force some clarity, with Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins and rookies Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakucionis all competing for minutes and longer-term relevance as Milwaukee tries to map out its next competitive window.
Beyond the guard rotation, the front office is also staring at a series of bigger judgments on contracts and trade value, with players such as Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Myles Turner in the mix as the team weighs how aggressive it wants to be. Kyle Kuzma adds another layer to the calculus, since the Bucks have to decide whether keeping him in the rotation fits the plan or whether his value is better used in a move that helps shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Face One Brutal Question In Their First Season After Giannis
The Bucks are heading into unfamiliar territory after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, and the next chapter is built less on star power than on patience. Milwaukee is moving into a rebuilding phase centered on a young core, with a mix of newcomers from the deal and rookies being asked to learn quickly while still keeping the team respectable enough to matter in the standings.
That balancing act is what makes the season so tricky. The Bucks would like to stay in the Play-In picture if the young group clicks, but the new draft-lottery landscape adds another layer of pressure because Milwaukee does not control its first-round pick. In other words, the franchise has to figure out how to develop, compete and protect its long-term future all at once, without much margin for error. [Read more 🡒]