The Memphis Grizzlies interviewed Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Taylor Jenkins for its head coaching vacancy, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Milwaukee assistant Taylor Jenkins interviewed for the Memphis Grizzlies coaching job, league sources tell ESPN. Jenkins has been on Mike Budenholzer’s staff with Bucks and Hawks and served as a Spurs G League head coach.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 24, 2019
Jenkins has been a Mike Budenholzer disciple, serving as his assistant since his days with the Atlanta Hawks, and obviously with the Bucks, who are currently competing in the Eastern Conference Finals.
And fun fact: he's also the same guy who hilariously jumped in front of the Bucks bench when an on-court scuffle between Milwaukee and Detroit occured in their first-round series.
Jenkis started off as an intern with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007. He became an assistant with the Spurs D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros, for four seasons, before taking over as head coach in the 2012-13 season. He led the team to a 27-23 record and a first round series win.
Memphis fired J.B. Bickerstaff at the end of the 2018-19, but he has since found a new job as the Cleveland Cavaliers' associate head coach.
The Grizzlies, which have missed the playoffs over the past two seasons, are looking for a new head coach to usher in the new era in Memphis after the Grin-and-Grind era effectively ended when they traded away franchise cornerstone Marc Gasol in February.
Memphis recently secured the no. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. They are rumored to select Murray State star Ja Morant with that pick to pair with last year's no. 4 selection Jaren Jackson, Jr. Likewise, they are also looking to take advantage of having veteran guard Mike Conley mentor the athletic 6-foot-3 guard.
Nonetheless, whatever direction the Grizzlies go with that pick, they will need the right kind of coach to steer their young prospects in ths right direction. A coach like Jenkins seems to be a good candidate for this since he has had substantial experience coaching in the development ranks and has likewise been around winning environments in San Antonio, Atlanta, and Milwaukee.
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