The Week Ahead: Preseason Arrives for Jenkins' Rebuilt Bucks

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Wednesday, September 30

The Bucks play their first preseason game Oct. 5 at home against the Timberwolves, then travel to face the Thunder on Oct. 7. Both arrive under new head coach Taylor Jenkins, with Porter Jr. day-to-day on a right knee and leg issue as the four-game exhibition slate opens and the Oct. 21 regular-season opener at Washington draws closer.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Milwaukee finished last season 32-50, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. The offense ranked 24th in the league, the defense 26th, and Doc Rivers resigned once the season ended. The Bucks hired Taylor Jenkins as head coach on April 30, bringing him back to Milwaukee after a run leading the Memphis Grizzlies.

In June

That month, Milwaukee traded Antetokounmpo and Portis to Miami for a four-player package: Herro, Ware, Jakucionis and Jaquez Jr. The draft followed weeks later, adding Burries and Ament in the first round. Turner and Kuzma remain from the previous roster, alongside Rollins, Porter Jr., Green and Ryan — the group Jenkins now leads into games that count toward nothing but development.

This week

The preseason opens Oct. 5 at Fiserv Forum against the Timberwolves — the first chance to see Jenkins' starting group on its own floor. Milwaukee then travels to face the Thunder on Oct. 7, its first true road test of the fall. Porter Jr. has been day-to-day with a right knee and leg issue, with an estimated return date of Oct. 1, putting him in line to be available for both.

Oct. 21

Two more preseason games follow: Oct. 11 at the Hornets, Oct. 14 against the Bulls, rounding out a four-game exhibition slate. Milwaukee then opens the regular season on the road at the Wizards on Oct. 21 — the date when this remade roster starts counting toward the standings, not the four tune-ups that precede it, including the two played this week.

Next The next marker is Oct. 21, when Milwaukee opens the regular season on the road against the Wizards; before that, the preseason continues Oct. 7 at Oklahoma City.

When do the Bucks play their first preseason game?

Milwaukee opens its preseason schedule at home against the Timberwolves on Oct. 5, 2026.

Is Kevin Porter Jr. expected back for the preseason opener?

Porter Jr. has been day-to-day with a right knee and leg issue, with an estimated return date of Oct. 1, ahead of the Oct. 5 opener.