‘Building Not Rebuilding’ at Bucks Media Day 2026

Kevin Porter Jr. Photo taken by Lauren Hafeman on Sept. 28, 2026.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason was filled with monumental shifts to its roster and coaching staff. As the team welcomed Taylor Jenkins as its new head coach in April, it said a heartfelt goodbye to its superstar, two-time MVP and all-time leading scorer, Giannis Antetokounmpo, in July. 

The changes were top of mind during the Bucks’ Media Day interviews Monday, when journalists had an opportunity to speak with the new head coach, players and Bucks leadership ahead of the season. 

“Let’s start off with our thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo and all that he brought to our organization over 13 years. It’s been a minute since we haven’t had him in the building as we’re starting this thing off,” said Wes Edens, the Bucks’ co-owner. 

Players who spoke to questions about Antetokounmpo’s trade, such as Myles Turner and Ryan Rollins, acknowledged “34’s” contributions to the team and to the city, but remained focused on what’s to come.

“Giannis meant a lot to Milwaukee, so I know it was a big thing for the fan base,” said Rollins. “But it is what it is at the end of the day, and I look at it as more opportunity for everybody.”

Antetokounmpo’s departure came as a part of a blockbuster trade that sent him and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis. 

Edens said the trade “was about what gives the organization the best chance” of building a championship team. Noting “tremendous interest” in Antetokounmpo because of his talent and age, he said the Bucks got a “tremendous haul of players” and future draft picks from Miami.  

“Each and every one of those guys was targeted. We wouldn’t have done the trade without one of those players,” said Jon Horst, the Bucks’ general manager. “They’re age-appropriate, either entering their prime or the early end of their prime, and fit a culture and a style of play that we want to embody.” 

“They’re the workers. They’re the learners. They care about their craft, not just the basketball game but also their body development. These guys have been maniacal the last couple of weeks,” Jenkins added. 

Jenkins is joining the Bucks after nearly six seasons as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. But he is not new to Milwaukee — he served as an assistant coach for the Bucks during the 2018-19 season under Mike Budenholzer.

“Compete, together, get better” is the mantra he is bringing to the team and has become the season’s slogan. 

“Taylor Jenkins is the biggest addition [to the team] in the NBA offseason,” said Edens.

Herro, a Greenfield native, said he is happy to be home and to “help lead this new era of Bucks basketball.” Herro will wear jersey number 11, which he said he wore while playing in Milwaukee for his middle school team and that brought him good luck.

“Winning as many games as possible is how I approach the game, and I think that’s how [coach] Taylor approaches the game [too],” Herro said. “People try to write you off after a trade is made and people feel that you’re not going to win games. I feel that’s the opposite of what we’re thinking.”

Another main touchpoint of the day was the Bucks’ culture and identity, which Horst said is “centered around competition and getting better every day.”

“Culture is more than just a word. It’s more than thoughts. It’s behaviors. It’s actions,” said Jenkins. “If we’re truly going to embody being the most competitive team, the most unselfish and together team, and truly motivated to get better, we have to showcase that from today and tomorrow especially, and all the way through the end of the season.”

“We don’t think of this as rebuilding a team. We think of this as building a team. There’s a big difference between the two,” said Edens.

The Bucks are set to tip off their preseason at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 5. The Bucks regular season begins Oct. 21 with a road game against the Washington Wizards.

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