Taylor Jenkins: TJ Ford’s built to coach

Here’s Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins on bringing in TJ Ford as an assistant for 2026-27 (2003 No. 8 pick by the Bucks/previously spent time working together with Austin Toros/Toros now called the Spurs).

(via Milwaukee Bucks):

“Special relationship with TJ. He’s built to be in this environment. He’s built to coach. He’s built to give back. I felt that even when he was at the tail end of his amazing playing career, even though it was cut short. Credit to him. He immediately was like, ‘I want to test out this coaching thing right away.’ He could have chosen other things, but he was like, ‘I want to learn what it means to be a coach. I want to get the inner workings of that.’ So shared that special season with the Austin Toros, won a championship together. So, it always builds the bonds a little bit deeper. But always stayed in touch, even though we were separate for many years.

“He’s always been on my mind as someone that I would want to share this journey with because I know he’s about the things I’m about — about how we’re here to serve and teach and help others get better. He knows the game at a very high-level. And it’s not just for guards. He knows bigs. You know what he did in his career collegiately and at the pro-level to impact winning and help others get better, too. So just in the conversations I’ve had with him way back in Austin and the time since, I understood this guy is gonna fit, one, our DNA, our culture, but also be a great teacher and I’m excited to share the journey with him as well.”