It was clear to basically everyone that the Milwaukee Bucks needed to move on from Doc Rivers this past summer—for some, it was clear the year before that as well. When it was announced that Rivers would indeed be leaving, the pressure was on to find his replacement and actually get it right. Based on his media day comments, Bucks' co-owner Wes Edens thinks Taylor Jenkins is that guy.
"I think [Jenkins] may be the biggest addition in the NBA offseason as far as I'm concerned. He was the guy that we wanted. We signed him to a long-term contract... He's a known quantity to us because he was here before, then went off and had lots of success in Memphis... You take that and a refresh of the organization and it's a really exciting time."
Jenkins upgrade is Grand Canyon-sized
The Doc Rivers era was a disaster for the Milwaukee Bucks, which was a key talking point throughout media day. Kyle Kuzma was quick to point out that there was a lot of finger-pointing last year. Not all of it falls solely on Rivers, as his tenure was plagued by injuries, but he certainly was a prominent factor in the team's shortcomings due to a lack of accountability, outdated ideas, and more.
Now, the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to wipe the slate clean with Taylor Jenkins, someone who has been the complete opposite of Rivers from day one. At media day, he hammered home just how important accountability and growth will be for this younger group, something that was incredibly refreshing to hear after the last couple of seasons lacked that kind of demand.
This team won't be going through the motions every single night, as they now have a coach who will not allow it.
Bucks are now set up to be successful
Will the Milwaukee Bucks be title contenders as they have been for the last decade or so? Likely not for the time being. However, are they positioned to surprise some and potentially make a push for the Play-In Tournament? Absolutely. Jenkins' leadership—along with his player development track skills—make him the perfect man for steering the ship without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jenkins led several successful Memphis Grizzlies squads despite their inexperience, and if the Bucks even sniff a little success, he should be among the clear-cut Coach of the Year candidates. Here, he's set up nicely with an All-Star in Tyler Herro, rising guards in Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, a quality starter in Myles Turner, and a great supporting cast.
With someone like Rivers at the helm, there would be little excitement about this new cache of talent, but with Jenkins leading the charge, Milwaukee Bucks fans should be thrilled. The new season cannot start soon enough.
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