Taylor Jenkins is Encouraged by Bucks' Selflessness

In their most recent preseason game, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-126 in what was an all-around solid effort, especially in the fourth quarter. 

This was a game that saw an explosive outburst from Milwaukee, and it left head coach Taylor Jenkins pleased after the game. 

"Offensively, just finishing with 31 assists is really impressive," Jenkins said. "A team that's willing to move without the ball, willing to go playmaking and score when it's their time and also be unselfish and distribute- that was big time."

Offensively, moving the ball around will be one of the keys to success for the Bucks this season. Milwaukee has some guards that are looking to take a leap in 2026-2027, and playmaking will likely be something this coaching staff will monitor as the season progresses. 

In this game, two young guards, Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng, each finished with 7 assists. On a team that has a mix of veterans and young players, games like these from the young guards will be crucial. 

Brayden Burries was the 10th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, and he also made winning plays for the Bucks. This season, the success of the backcourt will likely determine the ceiling of the team. 

In the offseason, the Bucks brought in guard Tyler Herro from the Miami Heat as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. He is projected to be the leader of this group on offense now that he doesn't have an established second option beside him anymore. 

The Bucks also have two established veterans in the frontcourt: Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. If Ryan Rollins can continue to distribute the ball to the veterans and the rest of the roster continues to move the ball around, this team could see a lot of success. 

Jenkins still believes the team has some issues to clean up on the defensive end, but on offense, this is a team that can space the floor at a high level. When Taylor Jenkins coached in Memphis, his teams were similar in this aspect. 

His Grizzlies teams used to be able to spread the floor at a high level as well, and their guards were key components of a great offense. If the Bucks' coaching staff can maximize the abilities that their young guards have, they can turn heads next season. 

Milwaukee is still looking for a true franchise leader after Giannis' departure, but they can still find success playing unselfish this season.