Milwaukee Bucks: Taylor Jenkins hired as Memphis Grizzlies head coach
According to reports, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Taylor Jenkins has been hired as the next head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.
The first departure in the Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason has come, though it doesn’t have to do with any of the many free agents the team is set to have in a couple of weeks time.
First reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Bucks assistant coach Taylor Jenkins has landed the head coaching job for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The reported hiring of Jenkins now fills all of the head coaching vacancies that opened up around the league in the closing of the regular season this year.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
As has been covered throughout the last several weeks and months, Jenkins had rose through the ranks through the Grizzlies’ coaching search.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported one week ago that Jenkins had interviewed with Memphis brass for a second time, further fueling speculation that he could depart Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff.
Now that it has come to pass, Jenkins becomes the third coach from Budenholzer’s coaching tree to land a head coaching job around the league, the first two being Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz) and Kenny Atkinson (Brooklyn Nets).
The news obviously ends the 34-year-old’s time in Milwaukee after he was among the many staffers to follow Budenholzer from Atlanta upon Bud being hired by the Bucks last summer. Jenkins even took on the coaching reins for the Bucks’ Summer League squad in Las Vegas last year too.
Aside from acting as the lead assistant under Bud, the lasting memory of Jenkins’ one year in Milwaukee may have come during their playoff run where he went viral as the team’s “get back” coach following any kerfuffles and/or dust ups.
As Eric Nehm of The Athletic wrote about last month, Jenkins fully embraced the role and had plenty of expertise after being tagged with the responsibility in Atlanta under Budenholzer as well:
"“As a coach, you’re like what can I do to help our team win ball games, whether it’s the scouting reports, player development or even a simple moment like that,” Jenkins said. “To let that slip through cracks when you’re right next to it and you could possibly prevent it, you have to show that responsibility.”"
It’s safe to say Jenkins will have to retire his “get back” ways now that he’s gotten his promotion in Memphis.
Regardless, it’s great to see Budenholzer’s coaching tree blossom in Milwaukee after just one year and hopefully Jenkins does well in this opportunity to lead the rebuilding Grizzlies.