Victor Wembanyama critic Kyle Kuzma, coach Taylor Jenkins and the Milwaukee Bucks took to the court for their first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and lost 116-97. Life without Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't look the way Jenkins envisioned as his team got blitz at home, leading to blunt comments afterward.

Jenkins made it clear that his team is not where it needs to be with the start of the regular season just weeks away.

“Yeah, I mean I would say, definitely far from where we need to be…I felt like our defense was really lacking for 48 minutes,” Jenkins said, bemoaning his team's lack of ball pressure. “I know it's the first preseason game, but that's not an excuse…(We're) far from where we need to be,” the Bucks coach added.

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Jenkins, 42, is known for his days in Memphis with Ja Morant. He came over to the Bucks this offseason in hopes of sparking a reclamation project now that the former NBA champion and superstar forward Antetokounmpo is in Miami with Erik Spoelstra's team. Jenkins got his big break in Atlanta with the Hawks before moving up in the coaching ranks. He boasts a 464-250 career record making him one of the more successful active coaches in the league.

Ke'lel Ware and Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee in scoring with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while Tyler Herro and Gary Trent, Jr. added 11 points each.

Jenkins has a chance to revitalize a stagnant franchise in Milwaukee this season, and is banking on better defense, and offense, from guys like Herro and fellow newcomer Jaime Jaquez Jr. His voice carries a lot of weight in an NBA locker room, soon it will be time to see if the Bucks got his message.