Milwaukee found their next leader.
The Milwaukee Bucks have found their next head coach.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne, the Bucks and Taylor Jenkins are finalizing a deal to make Jenkins the franchise's new head coach.
The move comes less than two weeks after Doc Rivers stepped down following a 32-50 season, and it signals that Milwaukee is serious about getting the next chapter right.
Jenkins, who spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee, already has a working relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo from the era that produced a 60-win season and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
He went on to become head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, compiling a 250-214 record across six seasons and making the playoffs four times while developing young talent at every level.
The hire didn't happen overnight. Bucks GM Jon Horst and team owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam flew to Memphis last week to meet with Jenkins, and a second meeting followed shortly after.
Jenkins was considered the top coaching candidate on the market this offseason, with the Magic and other teams also interested.
Milwaukee moved aggressively to lock him up before those opportunities could develop.
Bobby Portis Told Everyone What Giannis Wanted
Before the hire became official, Bobby Portis gave the front office a public blueprint on FanDuel TV's RunItBack.
The 2021 championship teammate of Giannis, who averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in a career-low 36 games this season, laid out exactly what the two-time MVP values in a coach.
"I would say something that's about culture," Portis said. "Something that's about holding guys accountable, standing for the right things. Creating a culture and identity… When you play the Miami Heat and the Celtics, you know exactly how they're about to play."
Portis, who put up 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 48 games this season, specifically referenced wanting a "Mike Budenholzer type" of coach.
Jenkins fits that mold almost perfectly given his time on Budenholzer's staff, and the fact that Milwaukee landed the candidate Portis described should resonate with a franchise player who has been openly frustrated with the direction of the team.
What This Means for Giannis Staying in Milwaukee
Jenkins is the type of hire that could change the trajectory of this entire offseason.
He is 41 years old, has playoff experience, and has proven he can build a culture while developing young players into contributors.
In Memphis, he turned the Grizzlies into a team with a real identity, and that is precisely what the Bucks have been missing since Budenholzer's departure.
Giannis is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract.
Landing Jenkins sends a direct message that the front office heard what their franchise player wanted and acted on it.
Whether that is enough to keep Giannis in Milwaukee long-term remains to be seen, but for the first time in a while, the Bucks are making a move that aligns with what their best player has been asking for.