Milwaukee Bucks: What can Mike Budenholzer’s assistants offer?

Taylor Jenkins

Taylor Jenkins has enjoyed a close working relationship with Budenholzer for longer than any other assistant coach on the Hawks’ most recent staff.

Jenkins joined the Hawks in the summer of 2013 when Budenholzer took over, but theirs was a relationship formed under the banner of the San Antonio Spurs’ organization.

In total, Jenkins spent five seasons working with the Austin Toros (now the Austin Spurs), including four as an assistant and a single year as a head coach. Two of those years were spent working alongside current Utah Jazz coach and former Hawks assistant Quin Snyder.

In his sole year as a D-League head coach, Jenkins led the Toros to a record of 27-23 before ultimately losing to Santa Cruz in the semi-finals.

Jenkins made his way to the Toros thanks to a year as a Basketball Operations intern with the Spurs in 2008. Through his time with the Toros, Jenkins’ relationship with the Spurs proper developed too, culminating in Budenholzer assigning Jenkins to do some advance scouting work for the team in the 2013 playoffs, as he told Ridiculous Upside.

"“Coach Budenholzer put me in a position of advanced scouting for the team. I basically create small reports for the team to use. It has been a great opportunity for me, in fact, it is my first time scouting at the NBA level.”"

Jenkins’ work must have been well received as he joined Budenholzer in Atlanta soon after. Jenkins continued to progress closer to the top seat on Atlanta’s bench, becoming a key assistant and leading the Hawks’ Summer League team in 2016.

Still in his early 30s, much like Lee, Jenkins is a coach who owes a lot to Budenholzer and also has a rapidly growing reputation around the NBA.