The Milwaukee Bucks have registered serious interest in former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, with ownership and Jon Horst meeting in Memphis.
The Milwaukee Bucks have registered serious interest in former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins to fill their head coaching vacancy, according to a report from The Athletic.
Bucks co-owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam, along with general manager Jon Horst, traveled to Memphis early last week to meet with Jenkins, who still resides in the area with his family, The Athletic reported. The group discussed the franchise's head coaching opening and outlined a vision for the future with Jenkins in Milwaukee.
No deal is in place and contract figures have not been discussed, per the report, but the two sides are expected to meet again soon to continue conversations about the opening.
Jenkins, 41, served as the head coach of the Grizzlies from 2019 to 2025 and compiled a 250-214 record over that stretch for a .539 winning percentage. Memphis reached the playoffs in four of Jenkins' six seasons, including a second-round appearance during the 2021-22 campaign, when the Grizzlies tied a franchise record with 56 wins.
Jenkins did not coach the team in his final playoff appearance, as the Grizzlies parted ways with him with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Before taking the Memphis job, Jenkins spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach with the Bucks under Mike Budenholzer. That Milwaukee team won 60 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.
Jenkins is widely viewed as one of the top candidates in the current coaching market, and it remains unclear whether he will prioritize the Bucks' opening or wait for additional vacancies to emerge, according to The Athletic. He has also been linked to the Orlando Magic should the organization move on from Jamahl Mosley.
The Bucks are searching for a new head coach after Doc Rivers stepped down following a 32-50 season that saw Milwaukee miss the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. Rivers compiled a 97-103 record over two and a half seasons with the Bucks after taking over for Adrian Griffin in January 2024. Milwaukee failed to advance in the playoffs in either of Rivers' first two seasons amid injuries to former point guard Damian Lillard and two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In an interview with local reporters during the final week of the season, Horst praised Rivers for doing a "masterful" job navigating a difficult year that included injuries and swirling rumors about Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise. Rivers ultimately chose to step down at the conclusion of the season.
During that same interview, Horst acknowledged the franchise must still decide whether to proceed with Antetokounmpo as its centerpiece or trade the 10-time All-Star forward before next season.