The Bucks didn't need input from the players.
The Milwaukee Bucks did not mess around with their coaching search.
Just 11 days after parting ways with Doc Rivers following a brutal 32-50 season, the franchise locked in Taylor Jenkins as the 19th head coach in team history, and the introductory press conference on Wednesday at the Milwaukee Art Museum confirmed what most around the league already expected.
Horst Takes Full Ownership of the Decision
The most notable moment from the presser came when general manager Jon Horst confirmed that Giannis Antetokounmpo had absolutely nothing to do with the coaching search.
When asked directly whether the two-time MVP met with Jenkins before the hire, Horst did not dance around it.
"No," Horst said. "Every situation is different, and for us it's really important. This is about building the culture, the identity of the team. It was clear to us in who we needed to hire to have as a partner with our organization going forward to build sustainable success for years to come in Milwaukee. This situation, it wasn't about Giannis or not Giannis. None of the players were part of the process."
Milwaukee has historically consulted its star players during coaching searches, so this was a noticeable break from the norm.
Horst emphasized that this time around, the front office drove the process entirely on its own, and he did not seem the least bit apologetic about it.
Why Jenkins Fits What Milwaukee Needs
Jenkins spent six seasons running the Memphis Grizzlies and went 250-214 while leading Memphis to three straight playoff appearances from 2021 to 2023. T
he Grizzlies fired him in March 2025 with nine games left in the regular season despite Memphis sitting at 44-29, which still feels like a head-scratcher.
Before Memphis, Jenkins was an assistant on Mike Budenholzer's staff in Milwaukee during the 2018-19 season, which is why he called this move a "full circle" moment.
He already knows the building, the front office, and Giannis himself from that year together.
What Jenkins did in Memphis was build a program around fast-paced offenses and a defensive identity that demanded physical toughness from everybody on the roster.
That style lines up with how Giannis is at his most dangerous.
Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in just 36 games this past season, a career low in appearances due to injuries that helped drag the Bucks into their worst finish in over a decade.
When healthy, Giannis is at his best in transition and attacking downhill in the half court, which is exactly how Jenkins wants to play.
The Bigger Picture
Jenkins has already spoken with Giannis since the hire and called the conversation positive.
Giannis, for his part, gave a two-word answer when asked if Jenkins would be coaching him next season.
"We'll see."
Co-owner Jimmy Haslam said the organization expects clarity on Giannis' future before the 2026 NBA Draft, which gives Milwaukee only a few weeks to figure out if it is building around its franchise player or preparing for a full reset.