WASHINGTON D.C. – The Milwaukee Bucks open the 2026-27 regular season in Washington D.C. as they take on the Wizards at Capital One Arena, but even as new head coach Taylor Jenkins has preached urgency in trying to compete at a high level, he recognizes the team is still in the very early stages of establishing itself.
“We’re laying our foundation and probably to kind of encapsulate it all, it’s still a settling foundation,” Jenkins said following the team’s practice on Oct. 20. “It’s not fully set. It’s going to probably take an entire year, an entire calendar year to go through all the things. First time together, first offseason, first preseason, camp, first regular season and beyond. I like the direction we’re going in. I think our guys understand what we’re trying to build here, they’re understanding and learning our habits.
“But as I’ve emphasized with them, we’re in a learning phase but we’ve got to establish quicker rather than later so let’s not use patience and ‘first year’ as an opportunity to maybe not establish as quick as we can.”
WHERE TO WATCH: What channel is Bucks vs Wizards on tonight?
Jenkins admitted he remains in a learning stage about his own players, however, particularly who will play, who will play with whom and for how long. He has said several times in the run-up to the opener would prefer a rotation of 11 players [depending on how the game goes] and have them ready to log 20-25 minutes of high intensity play.
From Day 1 Jenkins has insisted, though, that any pairings could change and probably will.
It’s a unique place to be in, and there is an inherent tension in it.
A veteran like Caris LeVert (32 years old) does match the timeline of 19-year-old rookie Nate Ament. Kyle Kuzma and Tyler Herro are in contract years. Ryan Rollins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are likely eyeing long-term contracts as well. There are established veterans that, on paper, might not leave much playing time for prospects on the roster.
“There’s a lot of situations coming in for sure,” Jenkins told the Journal Sentinel at the start of camp. “Well aware of it. Great dialogues obviously with ownership and front office on what we’re trying to build. That’s the first and foremost thing. We’re trying to develop a culture and an identity and trying to develop a standard of work. I always want to be respectful of every individual player’s goals and hopes, whether that’s tail end of a contract or stepping right in your rookie year.
“I think all these guys have an opportunity to help us build our culture. The pathways for our young guys, yeah, naturally we want those guys to get opportunities. But they gotta earn it. Same thing with our vets. It’s easier said than done and that’s what I have to hold the group accountable to.”
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Jenkins said the driver of his mentality regarding that accountability will be how each player is competing, doing what’s asked to help foster that collective identity and of course, execution on the court. He emphasized he will try and help players accomplish their goals, whatever they may be, but it must come within the context of improving the team.
“That’s the support I’ve gotten from ownership, front office and hopefully we collectively understand as a team we want to win at the end of the day,” Jenkins added. “When I’ve talked to all these guys, there is a hunger to win, knowing that a lot of these guys have a lot to prove and are looking for the next thing that can be career-changing for them and their lives. But my focus is on the team. And that’s what I’m always going to remind them and that’s what I have remind myself, too.”
It is a delicate balance, but one that assistant coach Darvin Ham believes Jenkins will strike.
“He’s the sun that all the planets are going to have to adjust to in the solar system, meaning, [buying into] his approach of ‘compete, together, get better’ all the way down to the different principles and things on both sides of the ball,” Ham told the Journal Sentinel at the start of camp. “Taylor, he has a great feel on when he’s pressing a little too much and needs to pull back or when he has to turn up the heat. If they want to get on the floor, they’re going to have to submit to what he’s expecting out of them and be consistent with that. Then as a head coach, you’re going to get what you’re looking for in terms of consistency, high-level competitiveness, high-level selflessness and high-level improvement. I’m not worried about that.”
The Bucks open the season with 15 players on guaranteed deals, and three two-way contracts, so on most nights that means a good chunk of the roster will have to stay ready for minutes that may not come.
During the five-game preseason, Jenkins used two different starting lineups when all the regulars were available and then mixed and matched groups on a regular basis. He rolled out three-guard lineups, two-center lineups and small ball units. He would substitute players situationally.
“I feel very comfortable knowing that’s all going to be fluid,” Jenkins said before the team took off for Washington D.C. “Even early in the season, my willingness to adjust is gonna be something I want my coaches, my team to hold me accountable to - there’s not just something etched in stone from a starting group, that unit that comes off the bench. That could all change come fourth quarter, too. We’ve got a lot of depth, I’ve been saying that from the very beginning of the season. How we deploy that opening night could look different on the second night or the third night or it could still look the same.
“Because I still want to evaluate the depth of this roster and really more the chemistry and connectivity of how we’re executing our offense and our defense. I feel comfortable knowing that I’ve got to be very intentional about making sure I’m getting all the information possible to continue to just, day after day, game after game, put our best group out there.”
More: 3 things we learned about the Milwaukee Bucks in the preseason
Bucks projected starters
This group started three of the Bucks' five exhibition games together:
- Guards: Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro
- Forwards: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Myles Turner
Who could be in the opening night rotation?
Heading into the first game of the season, these were the players on guaranteed deals who logged the most minutes per game.
- Guards: Brayden Burries, Tyler Herro, AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kasparas Jakučionis, Gary Trent Jr.
- Wings: Ousmane Dieng, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma
- Bigs: Kel’el Ware, Myles Turner, Jericho Sims
No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa out for Wizards
Washington underwent a massive makeover at the end of the last season and through the summer by acquiring veteran all-stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis and then winning the NBA draft lottery and selecting AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall out of BYU. Unfortunately for the Wizards, the 19-year-old forward will not make his debut against the Bucks as he suffered a left ankle sprain on Oct. 16 in a preseason game against New Orleans.
Bucks injury report
- Nate Ament, probable (left ankle sprain)
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
Milwaukee moved its games to over-the-air for the season, so the game will be broadcast locally on My24. Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks are on the call.
Bucks vs. Wizards odds
Washington is a 4.5-point favorite over Milwaukee, with the over/under set at 238.5 points per BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks vs Wizards season opener, live updates, probable starting lineup