Taylor Jenkins: ‘I’m Forever Grateful’ — New Bucks Coach Reflects on Lessons, Growth, and Departure from Grizzlies

On May 6, former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins was unveiled as the next head of the Milwaukee Bucks.

He also considered his time with the Grizzlies while discussing his new chance. After a strong start, the team’s play declined precipitously, and Jenkins was ultimately sacked in March 2025 due to the team’s inability to compete with the best teams. He had been with Memphis for almost six entire seasons prior to that.

The Grizzlies were led by Jenkins to one playoff series victory and two No. 2 conference seeds. Additionally, he is the franchise’s all-time winningest head coach.

No doubt, your head is spinning when you’re a rookie head coach, he claimed. I had to acquire a lot of different growth areas during my six years in Memphis. Chances for reflection on my coaching approach. First, my overall approach to teaching the game, since it’s the foundation of my personality.

In addition to flexibility, Jenkins also discussed it at length. The Grizzlies tried a variety of strategies to enhance their offense, using various coaching voices and schematic adjustments, but they were unable to achieve the desired level, despite always fielding strong defenses. After each season, Jenkins changed both the team’s player development approach and the structure of its training sessions.

You have to have a discipline to practice consistent farming, but you also have to focus on reiterating, being creative, and adjusting to new tactics in order to improve your performance on the field, according to Jenkins.

He said there were many wonderful things that happened there. In terms of creating a culture and establishing an identity, I want to duplicate many things here, but there are other opportunities here that I’m thrilled to pursue with a new roster, new partners, and that support that I’m eager to unlock even more with my own coaching and leadership skills.