Report: Doc Rivers Might Lose Milwaukee Coaching Job To This Former Western Conference Mentor

Just months before he enters the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Doc Rivers finds himself once again on the hot seat.

This season, the writing has been on the wall for Rivers, the former Coach of the Year and one-time NBA champion who took over the Milwaukee Bucks in January 2024. For better or for worse, Rivers was going to be a sitting duck as the Bucks organization scrambled to deal with a hugely disappointing season.

Not only is Rivers’ job in jeopardy, but the name of his successor has already been floated on the internet. This past Sunday, insider Marc Stein offered the scoop.

“Former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, who worked for a season as a Bucks assistant to Mike Budenholzer in 2018-19 before Memphis gave him his head coaching shot, has already emerged as a likely prime candidate in Brewtown if the Bucks indeed end up launching a coaching search,” Stein reported.

The last time NBA fans saw Jenkins manning the sidelines, he was leading the way for Ja Morant and a feisty Memphis Grizzlies squad. In six seasons with the Grizzlies, Jenkins amassed a regular-season record of 250-214; meanwhile, he led Memphis to three playoff runs, went as far as the Western Conference semifinals, and compiled a 9-14 postseason record.

Jenkins isn’t a former champion coach like Rivers, but he has demonstrated his ability to manage colorful characters and deploy them as a strong collective unit. Jenkins’ skill set, along with his past ties to Milwaukee, lends credence to the argument that he is a worthy successor to Rivers.

While Jenkins would be a great hire for the Bucks, it’s interesting to note that Rivers’ stint with the team might not necessarily come to an end even if he vacates the role of head coach. After all, Rivers started out with the Bucks as a consultant, a position that he might return to as Stein reported that the Bucks front office could opt for “job restructuring” instead.

No matter what the Bucks decide to do with Rivers, there’s no denying that major changes are in order. Giannis Antetokounmpo has spiritually checked out of the team that he’s given 13 years of his life to, and the rest of the roster has struggled to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference.

Falling short of the play-in tournament this year, the Bucks will start their offseason earlier than usual. As they do so, they could very well be the first team to get on the coaching carousel.