Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach after failing to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the NBA team said Thursday. The 41-year-old American served as an assistant coach for the Bucks in the 2018-19 season on coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff and more recently spent six seasons as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jenkins replaces Doc Rivers, who resigned as head coach of the Bucks earlier this month after three seasons in Milwaukee, the final of which concluded with a 32-50 losing record. Rivers’ Bucks had lost twice in the first round of the playoffs before missing the post-season entirely this year. It is the first time in nine seasons that Milwaukee has not participated in the playoffs.
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“Taylor’s attention to detail, toughness, and communication skills make it clear that he knows how to cultivate a winning culture,” Bucks owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan said in a statement. “We are excited to work together toward our collective goal of sustained success and winning championships.”
Milwaukee won the NBA championship as recently as 2021, when two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the team to glory. The move to hire Jenkins comes as the Bucks are trying to convince the Greek-Nigerian star to remain with the club. Antetokounmpo struggled with injuries and was linked with a mid-season trade before publicly complaining that the team had not allowed him to play.
© 2024 AFP
