Milwaukee Bucks
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball
team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, United States
. They are part of the Central Division
of the Eastern Conference
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team
, and currently plays at the Bradley Center
. U.S. Senator Herb Kohl
is the owner of the team, with Scott Skiles
as head coach and John Hammond
as general manager. The Bucks have won one league title (1971
), two conference titles (1971
, 1974
), and thirteen division titles (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2001). They have featured such notable players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
, Oscar Robertson
, Bob Lanier
, Ray Allen
, and Michael Redd
.
awarded a franchise to Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services, Inc. (Milwaukee Pro), a group headed by Wesley Pavalon and Marvin Fishman. In October, the Bucks played their first NBA regular season game against the Chicago Bulls
before a Milwaukee Arena
crowd of 8,467. As is typical with expansion teams, the Bucks' first season, 1968–69, was a struggle. Their first victory came in their 6th game as the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons
134–118; they would win only 26 more games in their first year. The Bucks' record that year earned them a coin flip against their expansion brethren, the Phoenix Suns
, to see who would get the first pick in the upcoming draft. It was a foregone conclusion that the first pick in the draft would be Lew Alcindor of UCLA. The Bucks won the coin flip, but had to win a bidding war with the upstart American Basketball Association
to secure him.
. The 29-game improvement was by far the best in league history—a record which would stand for 10 years until the Boston Celtics
jumped from 29 wins in 1978–79 to 61 in 1979–80 (the difference again being a highly-touted rookie, Larry Bird
). The Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers
in five games in the Eastern semifinals, only to be dispatched in five by the Knicks in the Eastern finals. Alcindor was a runaway selection for NBA Rookie of the Year.
The following season, the Bucks got an unexpected gift when they acquired Oscar Robertson
, known as "the Big O", in a trade with the Cincinnati Royals
. Subsequently, in only their third season the Bucks finished 66–16—the second-most wins in NBA history at the time, and still the most in franchise history. During the regular season, the Bucks recorded a then-NBA record 20 game win streak. They then steamrolled through the playoffs with a dominating 12–2 record, winning the NBA Championship on April 30, 1971 by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets
in four games. By winning it all in only their third season, the Bucks became the fastest expansion team in NBA history to win the championship, however four decades later, it remains the only title in club history.
The Bucks remained a powerhouse for the first half of the 1970s. In 1972, they recorded their third consecutive 60-win season, the first NBA team to do so. During the year, Lew Alcindor converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
. Milwaukee beat the Warriors in the playoffs 4-1, but lost the conference finals to Los Angeles 4-2. Injuries resulted in an early 1973 playoff exit, but the Bucks were back in the 1974 NBA Finals
against the Boston Celtics
. In Game 6 of the series, Jabbar made a patented "sky hook
" shot to end a classic double-overtime victory for the Bucks. The Bucks lost Game 7 and the series to the Celtics; as of 2010, they have not returned to the NBA Finals. As the 1974-1975 season began, Abdul-Jabbar suffered a hand injury and the team got off to a 3-13 start. After his return, other injuries befell Milwaukee, sending them to the bottom of their division with 38 wins and 44 losses. When the season ended, Abdul-Jabbar made the stunning announcement that he no longer wished to play for the Bucks, stating that he needed the big city. He thus requested a trade to either Los Angeles or New York. The front office was unable to convince him otherwise and on June 16, 1975, the Bucks pulled a mega-trade by sending Jabbar to the Lakers for Elmore Smith
, Junior Bridgeman
, Brian Winters
and David Meyers
. The trade triggered a series of events that led to a change in the team's ownership.
Jim Fitzgerald
, the Bucks largest stockholder, opposed the trade and wanted to sell his stock. Although Fitzgerald was the largest stockholder, he didn't own enough stock to control the team.
who became head coach in November 1976 after Larry Costello
abruptly resigned. In the 1977 draft, the Bucks had three first round picks and drafted Kent Benson
, Marques Johnson
and Ernie Grunfeld
. Johnson would become a staple in the Bucks for years to come. Rookie Sidney Moncrief
made his debut in 1979.
On Oct 18, 1977, Jabbar, playing with L.A., punched Benson during a game. Jabbar broke his hand in the process. Benson had been aggressive under the boards and Jabbar, a martial arts
blackbelt, snapped. Jabbar was fined $5,000 by the NBA and missed the next 20 games. Meanwhile, Benson never played as aggressively again. In February 1980, the Bucks traded Kent Benson to Detroit for veteran center Bob Lanier
to fill in the hole left by the departure of Jabbar. They then won the Midwest Division
title in 1980. After losing to Seattle in the semi-finals, the Bucks moved to the Eastern Conference
's Central Division
.
There, they would win 6 straight division titles and have .500 seasons for the next 11 years. Within those years, the Bucks became perennial Eastern Conference contenders, primarily due to the strong play of Moncrief, Paul Pressey
, Craig Hodges
and the arrival of Terry Cummings
, Ricky Pierce
and Jack Sikma
from trades with the Los Angeles Clippers
and Seattle respectively. However, the Bucks were unable to make it to the NBA Finals again, being eliminated by either the Celtics or the Sixers
each time.
For much of the 1970s the Bucks colors were forest green, deep red and white. In 1978, they added various shades of green to the uniforms, and in 1985, they eliminated red from the team colors.
bought the Bucks after fears that out-of-town investors could buy the team and move it out of Milwaukee. Before the transaction was complete, Jane and Lloyd Pettit of Milwaukee announced they were donating a new arena called the Bradley Center
. In 2003, after considering selling the team, Kohl announced that he had decided against selling the Bucks to Michael Jordan
and would "continue to own them, improve them and commit them to remaining in Wisconsin."
, Mike Dunleavy
, and Chris Ford
. From 1991 through 1998, the Bucks suffered seven straight seasons of losing records. During this period, the Bucks drafted Glenn Robinson
with the first overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft and in 1996 acquired rookie Ray Allen
in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both players would have prominent roles in the Bucks resurgence during the late 1990s.
To honor the franchise's 25th Anniversary in 1993, the Bucks overhauled their logo and uniforms. The old logo, which featured a cartoonish deer, was replaced in favor of a more regal one. The primary color scheme was altered as well, when red was supplanted by purple. Purple road uniforms replaced the former green away uniforms.
, who had reached the NBA Finals
with the Seattle SuperSonics
. Under the leadership of Karl and general manager Ernie Grunfeld
, and with the steady addition of talent such as Tim Thomas
and Sam Cassell
, the Bucks developed into an elite team in the Eastern Conference. The nucleus of "the big three"-- consisting Allen, Cassell, and Robinson-- along with Karl, created a successful renaissance era in Milwaukee. The team reached its zenith in 2000-2001, winning 52 games and the Central Division title. That year the Bucks reached the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals, which they lost in seven games to the Philadelphia 76ers
.
After coming painstakingly close to a championship appearance in 2001, the Bucks sought to make key offseason personnel additions to put the team in the NBA Finals. Behind the strong encouragement of George Karl, the Bucks acquired forward Anthony Mason
at the beginning of the 2001–02 season. On paper, this made the Bucks the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. On and off the court, however, team chemistry was destroyed by the presence of Mason. The Bucks, who at the season's midway point were the number four seed in the Eastern Conference, began an unthinkable free-fall. The collapse culminated with a loss to the Detroit Pistons
on the final night of the season, eliminating the Bucks from playoff contention. The fallout created tension between the team's three stars and coach, resulting in the trade of Glenn Robinson
to Atlanta (for Toni Kukoc
and a 2003 first-round draft pick, used to select T. J. Ford
).
During the 2002–03 season, the Bucks traded superstar guard Ray Allen
and backup Ronald "Flip" Murray to the Seattle SuperSonics
for Gary Payton
and Desmond Mason
. The trade allowed emerging star Michael Redd
to see increased playing time, and with Gary Payton in the backcourt, the Bucks finished the season with a 42–40 record. The Bucks made the playoffs but lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets
in six games. That offseason, team leaders Sam Cassell
and center Ervin Johnson were traded to Minnesota (for Joe Smith). Payton left via free agency, after playing only 28 games for the Bucks. Coach George Karl's tenure in Milwaukee also ended after the season. Within a one-year period, the team had lost the coach and "big three" players most responsible for the team's success during that era.
Under the direction of new general manager Larry Harris
, The Bucks struggled with inconsistency and injury for the next six years. During this period they reached the playoffs twice, first under coach Terry Porter
in 2004
and then Terry Stotts
in 2006
. In both instances they were defeated by the Detroit Pistons
in five games. During this period, Michael Redd
blossomed into an All-Star and a perimeter shooting threat, becoming the new "face of the franchise." The Bucks received the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft
, and used it to select center Andrew Bogut
. Bogut struggled with both inconsistency and injuries in his first four years in Milwaukee, but over time become a key contributor to the Bucks.
In March 2008, the Bucks' fans selected the franchise's 40th Anniversary Team, which included notable players like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Ray Allen, Sidney Moncrief, and Michael Redd, to name a few.
On March 20, 2008, the Bucks announced that they would not renew general manager Larry Harris
's contract, which was to expire June 30, 2008. On April 11, 2008, the Bucks hired John Hammond, formerly the Vice President of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, as their new GM, giving the Milwaukee team a fresh director recently associated with success.
On April 17, 2008, the Bucks announced that Larry Krystkowiak
, the third and final head coach hired by Larry Harris, had been relieved of his duties. On April 21, 2008, the Bucks announced the hiring of coach Scott Skiles, formerly of the Chicago Bulls
and Phoenix Suns
.
On June 26, 2008, the Bucks acquired forward Richard Jefferson
from the New Jersey Nets
in a major trade for 2007 first round draft pick Yi Jianlian
and Bobby Simmons
. Later that day, the Bucks selected West Virginia's Joe Alexander
with the 8th pick of the NBA draft. Alexander was the first Taiwanese-born player in the NBA.
In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected promising point guard Brandon Jennings
who had not gone to college, but played in Italy the previous year. Midway through the season Bucks GM, John Hammond
traded Hakim Warrick
to Chicago
, and acquired John Salmons. In a Bucks uniform, Salmons averaged a team leading 19.9 ppg. The play of Jennings, along with the improvement of Andrew Bogut, the surprisingly improved Ersan Ilyasova
, and the John Salmons
trade, catapulted the team to be a playoff contender. At the beginning of the season, the Bucks were viewed as a team that wouldn't be in the playoff race. They hadn't been in four years. In October, the Bucks quickly fell behind the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the Central division, but Milwaukee ultimately clinched a playoff berth on April 6, 2010 with a road win over the Chicago Bulls
. It was during this time that the phrase "Fear The Deer" started, most likely by an ESPN commentator and adopted on message boards and within Andrew Bogut's Squad 6. The slogan rang well with Bucks fans, who started bringing signs with the phrase to games. The said slogan became the team's battle cry in the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks finished the season with a record of 46-36. The Bucks clinched the 6th seed and were eliminated in a hard fought seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks
. It was the farthest Milwaukee had gotten in the post-season since 2001
. The Bucks short playoff run was also in part to Andrew Bogut suffering a broken arm after making an awkward fall after a dunk in a late-season game, thus ending his season. In the 2010-11 season, the Bucks finished ninth in the eastern conference, just out of reach of the playoffs.
In the 1968 Draft
, the Bucks selected Charlie Paulk of Northeastern University in the first round (seventh overall).
First Game
On October 16, 1968, the Bucks hosted the Chicago Bulls
, dropping an 89–84 decision in front of a Milwaukee Arena crowd of 8,467. Starting for the Bucks were Guy Rodgers
, Jon McGlocklin
, Fred Hetzel
, Len Chappell
and Wayne Embry
. McGlocklin scored the first points in team history, draining a jump shot just 13 seconds in to the contest. Rodgers led the Bucks with 16 points.
First Win
The Bucks first claimed victory on October 31, 1968, in a 134-118 decision over the Detroit Pistons at the Milwaukee Arena.
First NBA Championship
No expansion team in pro sports history earned a championship more quickly than the Bucks, who captured the 1971 NBA title in just their third season of existence. The 1970–71 Bucks posted a 66–16 regular-season mark under Coach Larry Costello. In the postseason, they beat San Francisco (4–1) and the Los Angeles Lakers (4–1) before sweeping Baltimore in four straight for the title.
First Bradley Center Game
In front of a sellout crowd of 18,649 on November 5, 1988, the Bucks dropped a 107–94 decision to the Atlanta Hawks
. Terry Cummings
led the Bucks with 19 points.
First Bradley Center Win
In their second home game in their new home, on November 9, 1988, the Bucks topped Philadelphia 114–103 behind 31 points from Terry Cummings.
, the longtime play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Doucette used the word whenever a Bucks player connected on a long-range basket. It was often used for sharpshooter Jon McGlocklin. Appropriately, when it came time for the Bucks to choose a name for their new mascot, the name "Bango" won the contest.
Bango has been the Bucks official mascot for 33 years. He made his official debut on October 18, 1977, which was Milwaukee's home opener of the 1977-78 NBA season
. In addition to the date being Bango's home debut, the game itself pitted Milwaukee against former Buck Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
and his Los Angeles Lakers
at the Milwaukee Arena. Bango has worked hard to become popular with Bucks fans all throughout the state of Wisconsin over the years, appearing at schools, parades, and festivals as a goodwill ambassador for the team. His high-flying acrobatic layups, daring rebounds, and other entertaining antics still play an important role in energizing Bucks fans at the Bradley Center
. Since 2001, Bango has also made perennial appearances at the NBA All-Star Game.
At the 2009 All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, Bango suffered an injury during a mascot-participative skit. While standing on one basket's rim, Bango's right leg slipped through the hoop, and he fell on the rim. He then slipped further and fell through the basket entirely. Bango tore his ACL due to the fall and was unable to perform for the remainder of the 2008-09 season, periodically making appearances at games in a wheelchair. A video of Bango's injury at the 2009 Mascot Challenge was uploaded onto YouTube
shortly after the incident occurred.
During Game 4 of the 2009-10 first-round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks, Bango successfully performed a back-flip dunk from the top of a 16 foot ladder, a feat similar to the Seattle SuperSonics
's mascot, Squatch
's feat during a March 19, 2008, game between the SuperSonics and the Phoenix Suns
.
' uniforms, featuring block lettering and numbers. The hunter green road uniforms feature the city name and numbers in white with red trim. The home white uniforms feature the team nickname and numbers in hunter green with red trim; the color scheme was reversed for the 1971-72 NBA season. In the 1973-74 NBA season
, the road uniforms feature a script 'Milwaukee' and numbers in red with white trim; the following season they used the same formula for their home uniforms. In the 1976-77 NBA season
the road uniforms reverted back to the block 'Milwaukee' lettering while retaining the script home uniform. The shorts feature the alternate Bucks logo on the left leg.
In the 1978-79 NBA season
, the Bucks redesigned their uniforms, now featuring side stripes of various shades of green, inspired from the Rainbow Guts
uniforms of the Houston Astros
. Both the hunter green and white uniforms feature the streamlined 'Bucks' lettering from the team logo and block lettering. They removed the color red prior to the 1985-86 NBA season
.
Coinciding with the logo change in the 1993-94 NBA season
, the Bucks also changed uniforms. The purple road uniforms feature a modernized 'Bucks' lettering from their logo and numbers in silver with hunter green trim, with green side stripes. The home white uniforms feature the said lettering and numbers in hunter green with silver trim, with purple side stripes. The stripes were extended to the jersey in the 2001-02 NBA season
.
In the 1995-96 NBA season
the Bucks unveiled a hunter green alternate uniform. The script 'Bucks' lettering is in white fading to silver and purple and numbers are in white with green and purple trim. The uniform featured the graphic deer
logo on the right side. They were used until the 1997-98 NBA season
The Bucks' current home uniform is white with hunter green stripes on the sides. Inside each green stripe is a thinner red stripe that splits into two stripes near the shoulders. The writing simply says "Bucks". The numbers are green with a red outline. Milwaukee has two road uniforms. The primary one is hunter green and the same design as the home uniform, however the thicker stripe is red, and the thinner one is white. It also says "Bucks", and the numbers are white with a silver highlight and red outline. Both uniforms were introduced in the 2006-07 NBA season
. The secondary road uniform is red, introduced in the 2008-09 NBA season. It is made to resemble the 1960s-1980s uniforms. It says "Milwaukee" in white and silver writing, along with the numbers.
Julius Erving
was drafted by the Bucks in 1972, but he never played a game with Milwaukee.
Originally the retired numbers' banner was patterned after the Boston Celtics
' retired banners, with seven numbers placed in one banner. During the 40th anniversary celebrations, the banner was replaced by individual player banners designed to the Bucks jerseys they wore during their playing careers. In the ceremonies, the player's number was retired again to the rafters, and in the process were given framed Bucks jerseys in the current uniform design.
NBA Finals MVP
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
NBA Rookie of the Year
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
NBA Coach of the Year
NBA Executive of the Year
All-NBA First Team
All-NBA Second Team
All-NBA Third Team
NBA All-Defensive First Team
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
NBA Rookie First Team
NBA Rookie Second Team
(Channel 18) in Milwaukee aired mostly road games over a statewide network of stations in other markets, and from 1999–2005, WCGV-TV
(Channel 24) shared games with Fox Sports Wisconsin. Since 1986, Jim Paschke
has been the team's TV announcer, with former Buck Jon McGlocklin
providing color commentary for the team since 1976.
On the radio side the team has been carried by WTMJ Radio
(620) and throughout the state on the Bucks Radio Network (which is sponsored by Marshfield Clinic
) for most of the team's history. Ted Davis
announces, with former WTMJ-TV
sports director Dennis Krause providing color and serving as solo announcer on nights where Davis has a broadcasting assignment elsewhere.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are part of the Central Division
Central Division (NBA)
The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks...
of the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
, and currently plays at the Bradley Center
Bradley Center
The Bradley Center is an indoor arena, located on the northwest corner of North 4th and West State Streets, in Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
. U.S. Senator Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
is the owner of the team, with Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles
Scott Allen Skiles is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and former American professional basketball player. He also is the former head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Skiles holds the NBA record for assists in one game, with 30...
as head coach and John Hammond
John Hammond (basketball)
John Hammond is the current general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association, having succeeded Larry Harris on April 11, 2008. Previously, Hammond had been an assistant GM with the Detroit Pistons, where he had also worked as an assistant coach...
as general manager. The Bucks have won one league title (1971
1971 NBA Finals
The 1971 NBA Finals was played at the conclusion of the NBA's 25th Anniversary season of 1970-71. The Western Conference Champion Milwaukee Bucks, who were born just three years earlier, swept the Eastern Conference Champion Baltimore Bullets in four games...
), two conference titles (1971
1971 NBA Finals
The 1971 NBA Finals was played at the conclusion of the NBA's 25th Anniversary season of 1970-71. The Western Conference Champion Milwaukee Bucks, who were born just three years earlier, swept the Eastern Conference Champion Baltimore Bullets in four games...
, 1974
1974 NBA Finals
-Series Summary:Celtics win series 4-3-Game 1:Before the series started, Bucks point guard Lucius Allen would be lost for the series with a knee injury. In Game 1, the Celtics took advantage, harassing a 35-year old Oscar Robertson and Allen's replacement, Ron Williams, into frequent turnovers...
), and thirteen division titles (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2001). They have featured such notable players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
, Bob Lanier
Bob Lanier (basketball)
Robert Jerry "Bob" Lanier, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992....
, Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
, and Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Michael Wesley Redd is an American professional basketball player who currently is a free agent. He has most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. He also was a member of the U.S...
.
Formation and the arrival of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
The Milwaukee Bucks were formed in January 1968 when the NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
awarded a franchise to Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services, Inc. (Milwaukee Pro), a group headed by Wesley Pavalon and Marvin Fishman. In October, the Bucks played their first NBA regular season game against the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
before a Milwaukee Arena
U.S. Cellular Arena
U.S. Cellular Arena is an indoor arena, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
crowd of 8,467. As is typical with expansion teams, the Bucks' first season, 1968–69, was a struggle. Their first victory came in their 6th game as the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
134–118; they would win only 26 more games in their first year. The Bucks' record that year earned them a coin flip against their expansion brethren, the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, to see who would get the first pick in the upcoming draft. It was a foregone conclusion that the first pick in the draft would be Lew Alcindor of UCLA. The Bucks won the coin flip, but had to win a bidding war with the upstart American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
to secure him.
1969-1975: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson era
While it was expected that Alcindor would make the Bucks respectable almost overnight, no one expected what happened in 1969–70. They finished with a 56–26 record—a nearly exact reversal of the previous record. This was good enough for the second-best record in the league, behind the New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. The 29-game improvement was by far the best in league history—a record which would stand for 10 years until the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
jumped from 29 wins in 1978–79 to 61 in 1979–80 (the difference again being a highly-touted rookie, Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
). The Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
in five games in the Eastern semifinals, only to be dispatched in five by the Knicks in the Eastern finals. Alcindor was a runaway selection for NBA Rookie of the Year.
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
, known as "the Big O", in a trade with the Cincinnati Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Subsequently, in only their third season the Bucks finished 66–16—the second-most wins in NBA history at the time, and still the most in franchise history. During the regular season, the Bucks recorded a then-NBA record 20 game win streak. They then steamrolled through the playoffs with a dominating 12–2 record, winning the NBA Championship on April 30, 1971 by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in four games. By winning it all in only their third season, the Bucks became the fastest expansion team in NBA history to win the championship, however four decades later, it remains the only title in club history.
The Bucks remained a powerhouse for the first half of the 1970s. In 1972, they recorded their third consecutive 60-win season, the first NBA team to do so. During the year, Lew Alcindor converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
. Milwaukee beat the Warriors in the playoffs 4-1, but lost the conference finals to Los Angeles 4-2. Injuries resulted in an early 1973 playoff exit, but the Bucks were back in the 1974 NBA Finals
1974 NBA Finals
-Series Summary:Celtics win series 4-3-Game 1:Before the series started, Bucks point guard Lucius Allen would be lost for the series with a knee injury. In Game 1, the Celtics took advantage, harassing a 35-year old Oscar Robertson and Allen's replacement, Ron Williams, into frequent turnovers...
against the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. In Game 6 of the series, Jabbar made a patented "sky hook
Hook shot
A hook shot, in basketball, is a play in which the offensive player, usually turned perpendicular to the basket, gently throws the ball with a sweeping motion of his arm in an upward arc with a follow-through which ends over his head. Unlike the jump shot, it is shot with only one hand; the other...
" shot to end a classic double-overtime victory for the Bucks. The Bucks lost Game 7 and the series to the Celtics; as of 2010, they have not returned to the NBA Finals. As the 1974-1975 season began, Abdul-Jabbar suffered a hand injury and the team got off to a 3-13 start. After his return, other injuries befell Milwaukee, sending them to the bottom of their division with 38 wins and 44 losses. When the season ended, Abdul-Jabbar made the stunning announcement that he no longer wished to play for the Bucks, stating that he needed the big city. He thus requested a trade to either Los Angeles or New York. The front office was unable to convince him otherwise and on June 16, 1975, the Bucks pulled a mega-trade by sending Jabbar to the Lakers for Elmore Smith
Elmore Smith
Elmore Smith is a retired American professional basketball player. A 7'0" center from Kentucky State University, he played in the National Basketball Association from 1971 to 1979...
, Junior Bridgeman
Junior Bridgeman
Ulysses Lee "Junior" Bridgeman is a retired American basketball player.Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Bridgeman was a member of the 1971 East Chicago Washington High School Senators basketball team, which went undefeated and won the Indiana state high school basketball championship...
, Brian Winters
Brian Winters
Brian Joseph Winters is a former NBA guard/forward, coach and former WNBA head coach. He attended academic and athletic powerhouse Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, NY, graduating in 1970. He then played collegiately with the University of South Carolina and was the 12th pick in the 1974...
and David Meyers
David Meyers (basketball)
David William Meyers is a retired American college basketball forward/center at the University of California, Los Angeles and professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks...
. The trade triggered a series of events that led to a change in the team's ownership.
Jim Fitzgerald
Jim Fitzgerald
James F. Fitzgerald is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is best known as a former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors, both NBA teams.-Early life:...
, the Bucks largest stockholder, opposed the trade and wanted to sell his stock. Although Fitzgerald was the largest stockholder, he didn't own enough stock to control the team.
1976-1987: Don Nelson era
After the mega-deal, the Bucks had several seasons in transition, but most of these players would bear fruit. After being sold to cable television executive Jim Fitzgerald and several partners in 1976, the Bucks would enter into another era of greatness. It began with Don NelsonDon Nelson
Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
who became head coach in November 1976 after Larry Costello
Larry Costello
Lawrence Ronald "Larry" Costello was an American professional basketball player and coach....
abruptly resigned. In the 1977 draft, the Bucks had three first round picks and drafted Kent Benson
Kent Benson
Michael Kent Benson is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.-1969-1973:...
, Marques Johnson
Marques Johnson
Marques Kevin Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks , Los Angeles Clippers , and Golden State Warriors ....
and Ernie Grunfeld
Ernie Grunfeld
Ernest "Ernie" Grunfeld is the General Manager of the Washington Wizards. He was also once a professional basketball player...
. Johnson would become a staple in the Bucks for years to come. Rookie Sidney Moncrief
Sidney Moncrief
Sidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
made his debut in 1979.
On Oct 18, 1977, Jabbar, playing with L.A., punched Benson during a game. Jabbar broke his hand in the process. Benson had been aggressive under the boards and Jabbar, a martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
blackbelt, snapped. Jabbar was fined $5,000 by the NBA and missed the next 20 games. Meanwhile, Benson never played as aggressively again. In February 1980, the Bucks traded Kent Benson to Detroit for veteran center Bob Lanier
Bob Lanier (basketball)
Robert Jerry "Bob" Lanier, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992....
to fill in the hole left by the departure of Jabbar. They then won the Midwest Division
Midwest Division (NBA)
The Midwest Division was a division in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail...
title in 1980. After losing to Seattle in the semi-finals, the Bucks moved to the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
's Central Division
Central Division (NBA)
The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks...
.
There, they would win 6 straight division titles and have .500 seasons for the next 11 years. Within those years, the Bucks became perennial Eastern Conference contenders, primarily due to the strong play of Moncrief, Paul Pressey
Paul Pressey
Paul Matthew Pressey is an American former professional basketball player. Pressey is widely, though unofficially, credited with being the originator of the point forward position, combining the attributes of a point guard and forward...
, Craig Hodges
Craig Hodges
Craig Anthony Hodges is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 10 seasons and led the league in 3-point shooting percentage three times...
and the arrival of Terry Cummings
Terry Cummings
Robert Terrell "Terry" Cummings is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons as a power forward and occasional center.-College and NBA years:...
, Ricky Pierce
Ricky Pierce
Ricky Charles Pierce is a retired American National Basketball Association player.-Playing career:...
and Jack Sikma
Jack Sikma
Jack Wayne Sikma is a retired American NBA basketball center. He was known for his distinctive curly, blonde hair in his playing days....
from trades with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and Seattle respectively. However, the Bucks were unable to make it to the NBA Finals again, being eliminated by either the Celtics or the Sixers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
each time.
For much of the 1970s the Bucks colors were forest green, deep red and white. In 1978, they added various shades of green to the uniforms, and in 1985, they eliminated red from the team colors.
Ownership and arena changes
In 1985, Fitzgerald and his partners(one of which was Stuart Shadel) decided to sell the Bucks. He was having health problems and some of his investors wanted to get out. The Bucks were playing in the smallest arena in the NBA and the city didn't want to build a new one. Milwaukee businessman (and now U.S. Senator) Herb KohlHerb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
bought the Bucks after fears that out-of-town investors could buy the team and move it out of Milwaukee. Before the transaction was complete, Jane and Lloyd Pettit of Milwaukee announced they were donating a new arena called the Bradley Center
Bradley Center
The Bradley Center is an indoor arena, located on the northwest corner of North 4th and West State Streets, in Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
. In 2003, after considering selling the team, Kohl announced that he had decided against selling the Bucks to Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and would "continue to own them, improve them and commit them to remaining in Wisconsin."
1990–1998: Rebuilding
For most of the 1990s, the Bucks franchise was mired in mediocrity under coaches Frank HamblenFrank Hamblen
Frank Hamblen is a National Basketball Association coach and scout, and a former college basketball player at Syracuse University. He has served as an interim head coach for two different teams; for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1992 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005...
, Mike Dunleavy
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Michael Joseph Dunleavy is a retired American professional basketball player, former head coach, and former general manager of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. He is the father of Indiana Pacers player Mike Dunleavy, Jr.-Early life:...
, and Chris Ford
Chris Ford
Christopher Joseph Ford is a former professional basketball player and head coach. A 6-foot-5 guard, he played high school basketball at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey,...
. From 1991 through 1998, the Bucks suffered seven straight seasons of losing records. During this period, the Bucks drafted Glenn Robinson
Glenn Robinson
Glenn A. "Big Dog" Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He last played during the 2004–05 season.-Early life:...
with the first overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft and in 1996 acquired rookie Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both players would have prominent roles in the Bucks resurgence during the late 1990s.
1998–2003: George Karl era
After a decade of dwelling near the bottom of the NBA's standings, the Bucks looked to add credibility to their basketball operations. In 1998, the team hired veteran coach George KarlGeorge Karl
George Matthew Karl is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player. He is the current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. On December 10, 2010 he became the seventh coach in NBA history to record 1,000 wins.-Biography:Karl was born in Penn Hills,...
, who had reached the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
with the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. Under the leadership of Karl and general manager Ernie Grunfeld
Ernie Grunfeld
Ernest "Ernie" Grunfeld is the General Manager of the Washington Wizards. He was also once a professional basketball player...
, and with the steady addition of talent such as Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (basketball)
Timothy Mark "Tim" Thomas is an American professional basketball player, in the small forward position.-High school / College:...
and Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell
Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft...
, the Bucks developed into an elite team in the Eastern Conference. The nucleus of "the big three"-- consisting Allen, Cassell, and Robinson-- along with Karl, created a successful renaissance era in Milwaukee. The team reached its zenith in 2000-2001, winning 52 games and the Central Division title. That year the Bucks reached the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals, which they lost in seven games to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
.
Anthony Mason (basketball)
Anthony George Douglas Mason is a retired American National Basketball Association player with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career...
at the beginning of the 2001–02 season. On paper, this made the Bucks the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. On and off the court, however, team chemistry was destroyed by the presence of Mason. The Bucks, who at the season's midway point were the number four seed in the Eastern Conference, began an unthinkable free-fall. The collapse culminated with a loss to the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
on the final night of the season, eliminating the Bucks from playoff contention. The fallout created tension between the team's three stars and coach, resulting in the trade of Glenn Robinson
Glenn Robinson
Glenn A. "Big Dog" Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He last played during the 2004–05 season.-Early life:...
to Atlanta (for Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoč is a retired Croatian professional basketball player. He was renowned for his versatility and passing ability; although his natural position was small forward, he played all five positions on the court with prowess and demonstrated court vision and an outside shooting touch that were...
and a 2003 first-round draft pick, used to select T. J. Ford
T. J. Ford
Terrance Jerod "T. J." Ford is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for KK Zagreb. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA Draft and was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks...
).
During the 2002–03 season, the Bucks traded superstar guard Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
and backup Ronald "Flip" Murray to the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
for Gary Payton
Gary Payton
Gary Dwayne Payton is a former American professional basketball point guard. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, and holds Seattle franchise records in points, assists, and steals...
and Desmond Mason
Desmond Mason
Desmond Tremaine Mason is an American former professional basketball player. He was designated as a shooting guard and small forward.-Career:...
. The trade allowed emerging star Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Michael Wesley Redd is an American professional basketball player who currently is a free agent. He has most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. He also was a member of the U.S...
to see increased playing time, and with Gary Payton in the backcourt, the Bucks finished the season with a 42–40 record. The Bucks made the playoffs but lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in six games. That offseason, team leaders Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell
Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft...
and center Ervin Johnson were traded to Minnesota (for Joe Smith). Payton left via free agency, after playing only 28 games for the Bucks. Coach George Karl's tenure in Milwaukee also ended after the season. Within a one-year period, the team had lost the coach and "big three" players most responsible for the team's success during that era.
2003–2008: Playoff and regular season failures
Larry Harris
Larry Harris served as the General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003 until March 19, 2008. He is currently an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.Harris is the son of former National Basketball Association coach Del Harris...
, The Bucks struggled with inconsistency and injury for the next six years. During this period they reached the playoffs twice, first under coach Terry Porter
Terry Porter
Terry Porter is an American professional basketball coach and former player in the National Basketball Association . A native of Wisconsin, he played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point before being drafted 24th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA Draft...
in 2004
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
and then Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts is an American basketball assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. His most recent head coaching job was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Stotts was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks on March 14, 2007...
in 2006
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
. In both instances they were defeated by the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in five games. During this period, Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Michael Wesley Redd is an American professional basketball player who currently is a free agent. He has most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. He also was a member of the U.S...
blossomed into an All-Star and a perimeter shooting threat, becoming the new "face of the franchise." The Bucks received the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
, and used it to select center Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
. Bogut struggled with both inconsistency and injuries in his first four years in Milwaukee, but over time become a key contributor to the Bucks.
In March 2008, the Bucks' fans selected the franchise's 40th Anniversary Team, which included notable players like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Ray Allen, Sidney Moncrief, and Michael Redd, to name a few.
On March 20, 2008, the Bucks announced that they would not renew general manager Larry Harris
Larry Harris
Larry Harris served as the General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003 until March 19, 2008. He is currently an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.Harris is the son of former National Basketball Association coach Del Harris...
's contract, which was to expire June 30, 2008. On April 11, 2008, the Bucks hired John Hammond, formerly the Vice President of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, as their new GM, giving the Milwaukee team a fresh director recently associated with success.
On April 17, 2008, the Bucks announced that Larry Krystkowiak
Larry Krystkowiak
Larry Brett Krystkowiak is a retired American professional basketball player, and current head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team. His nicknames include Krysko and Special K...
, the third and final head coach hired by Larry Harris, had been relieved of his duties. On April 21, 2008, the Bucks announced the hiring of coach Scott Skiles, formerly of the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
On June 26, 2008, the Bucks acquired forward Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson
Richard Allen Jefferson is a 6 ft 7 in American professional basketball player currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
from the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in a major trade for 2007 first round draft pick Yi Jianlian
Yi Jianlian
Yi Jianlian is a Chinese professional basketball player for the Guangdong Southern Tigers. He has also played in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, and Washington Wizards. Yi played power forward for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2002 and...
and Bobby Simmons
Bobby Simmons
Bobby Simmons is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Simmons played three years of college basketball for DePaul University...
. Later that day, the Bucks selected West Virginia's Joe Alexander
Joe Alexander (basketball)
Joe Alexander is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for BC Krasnye Krylya Samara of the Russian Professional Basketball League. Alexander, who at and plays both forward positions, was selected for the 2007 All-Big East squad during his collegiate career with West...
with the 8th pick of the NBA draft. Alexander was the first Taiwanese-born player in the NBA.
2009-present: Strides
Brandon Jennings
Brandon Jennings is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association who plays at point guard....
who had not gone to college, but played in Italy the previous year. Midway through the season Bucks GM, John Hammond
John Hammond (basketball)
John Hammond is the current general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association, having succeeded Larry Harris on April 11, 2008. Previously, Hammond had been an assistant GM with the Detroit Pistons, where he had also worked as an assistant coach...
traded Hakim Warrick
Hakim Warrick
Hakim Hanif Warrick is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently with the Phoenix Suns. Commonly nicknamed "Helicopter" and "Skinny", the 6'9", 219 lb forward was a major part the Syracuse Orange's run to the 2003 National Championship, often being most remembered...
to Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, and acquired John Salmons. In a Bucks uniform, Salmons averaged a team leading 19.9 ppg. The play of Jennings, along with the improvement of Andrew Bogut, the surprisingly improved Ersan Ilyasova
Ersan Ilyasova
Ersan İlyasova is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Anadolu Efes. He is also under contract with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, though the NBA is currently in a lockout...
, and the John Salmons
John Salmons
John Rashall Salmons is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA...
trade, catapulted the team to be a playoff contender. At the beginning of the season, the Bucks were viewed as a team that wouldn't be in the playoff race. They hadn't been in four years. In October, the Bucks quickly fell behind the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the Central division, but Milwaukee ultimately clinched a playoff berth on April 6, 2010 with a road win over the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. It was during this time that the phrase "Fear The Deer" started, most likely by an ESPN commentator and adopted on message boards and within Andrew Bogut's Squad 6. The slogan rang well with Bucks fans, who started bringing signs with the phrase to games. The said slogan became the team's battle cry in the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks finished the season with a record of 46-36. The Bucks clinched the 6th seed and were eliminated in a hard fought seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. It was the farthest Milwaukee had gotten in the post-season since 2001
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
. The Bucks short playoff run was also in part to Andrew Bogut suffering a broken arm after making an awkward fall after a dunk in a late-season game, thus ending his season. In the 2010-11 season, the Bucks finished ninth in the eastern conference, just out of reach of the playoffs.
Famous firsts in Bucks history
First Draft ChoiceIn the 1968 Draft
1968 NBA Draft
The 1968 NBA Draft was the 22nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 3, 1968 and May 8, 1968 before the 1968–69 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
, the Bucks selected Charlie Paulk of Northeastern University in the first round (seventh overall).
First Game
On October 16, 1968, the Bucks hosted the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, dropping an 89–84 decision in front of a Milwaukee Arena crowd of 8,467. Starting for the Bucks were Guy Rodgers
Guy Rodgers
Guy William Rodgers was an American professional basketball player born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent twelve years in the NBA, and was one of the league's best playmakers in the early to mid 1960s...
, Jon McGlocklin
Jon McGlocklin
Jon P. McGlocklin is an American former professional basketball player.A sharpshooting 6'5" guard from Indiana University, McGlockin was selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the third round of the 1965 NBA Draft, but he is best known for his 8-season tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he...
, Fred Hetzel
Fred Hetzel
Fred W. Hetzel is a retired American basketball player.-Early life in D.C.:Hetzel initially attended Woodrow Wilson High School in D.C. and played for the Tigers in the 1958 season. He then transferred to Landon School in the Bethesda, MD. suburbs and was a 3 time All Met. As a Soph, he averaged...
, Len Chappell
Len Chappell
Leonard R. "Len" Chappell is a retired American basketball player.A 6'8" power forward/center, Chappell was a star at Wake Forest University, were he was named ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 1961 and 1962. He was the ACC tournament's all-time leading scorer until Duke University's J....
and Wayne Embry
Wayne Embry
Wayne Richard Embry is a retired American basketball player; a center/forward whose 11-year career spanned from 1959 to 1969...
. McGlocklin scored the first points in team history, draining a jump shot just 13 seconds in to the contest. Rodgers led the Bucks with 16 points.
First Win
The Bucks first claimed victory on October 31, 1968, in a 134-118 decision over the Detroit Pistons at the Milwaukee Arena.
First NBA Championship
No expansion team in pro sports history earned a championship more quickly than the Bucks, who captured the 1971 NBA title in just their third season of existence. The 1970–71 Bucks posted a 66–16 regular-season mark under Coach Larry Costello. In the postseason, they beat San Francisco (4–1) and the Los Angeles Lakers (4–1) before sweeping Baltimore in four straight for the title.
First Bradley Center Game
In front of a sellout crowd of 18,649 on November 5, 1988, the Bucks dropped a 107–94 decision to the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. Terry Cummings
Terry Cummings
Robert Terrell "Terry" Cummings is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons as a power forward and occasional center.-College and NBA years:...
led the Bucks with 19 points.
First Bradley Center Win
In their second home game in their new home, on November 9, 1988, the Bucks topped Philadelphia 114–103 behind 31 points from Terry Cummings.
Mascot
The Bucks' official mascot is Bango, presently performed by Kevin Vanderkolk. The word "Bango" was originally coined by Eddie DoucetteEddie Doucette
Eddie Doucette is the president of Doucette Promotions Inc. He is a former television and radio announcer. He was the original radio voice of the Milwaukee Bucks where he broadcast games for 16 years. He also broadcast games for Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland...
, the longtime play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Doucette used the word whenever a Bucks player connected on a long-range basket. It was often used for sharpshooter Jon McGlocklin. Appropriately, when it came time for the Bucks to choose a name for their new mascot, the name "Bango" won the contest.
Bango has been the Bucks official mascot for 33 years. He made his official debut on October 18, 1977, which was Milwaukee's home opener of the 1977-78 NBA season
1977-78 NBA season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the 32nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Washington Bullets winning the NBA Championship, beating the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
. In addition to the date being Bango's home debut, the game itself pitted Milwaukee against former Buck Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
and his Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
at the Milwaukee Arena. Bango has worked hard to become popular with Bucks fans all throughout the state of Wisconsin over the years, appearing at schools, parades, and festivals as a goodwill ambassador for the team. His high-flying acrobatic layups, daring rebounds, and other entertaining antics still play an important role in energizing Bucks fans at the Bradley Center
Bradley Center
The Bradley Center is an indoor arena, located on the northwest corner of North 4th and West State Streets, in Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
. Since 2001, Bango has also made perennial appearances at the NBA All-Star Game.
At the 2009 All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, Bango suffered an injury during a mascot-participative skit. While standing on one basket's rim, Bango's right leg slipped through the hoop, and he fell on the rim. He then slipped further and fell through the basket entirely. Bango tore his ACL due to the fall and was unable to perform for the remainder of the 2008-09 season, periodically making appearances at games in a wheelchair. A video of Bango's injury at the 2009 Mascot Challenge was uploaded onto YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
shortly after the incident occurred.
During Game 4 of the 2009-10 first-round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks, Bango successfully performed a back-flip dunk from the top of a 16 foot ladder, a feat similar to the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
's mascot, Squatch
Squatch
Squatch was the team mascot for the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association. Between his 1993 debut and the team's relocation in 2008 to Oklahoma City, Squatch appeared at more than 175 events annually, and was with the organization during their run to the 1996 NBA Finals.In...
's feat during a March 19, 2008, game between the SuperSonics and the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
Uniforms
The Bucks' first uniforms were based on the Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
' uniforms, featuring block lettering and numbers. The hunter green road uniforms feature the city name and numbers in white with red trim. The home white uniforms feature the team nickname and numbers in hunter green with red trim; the color scheme was reversed for the 1971-72 NBA season. In the 1973-74 NBA season
1973-74 NBA season
The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
, the road uniforms feature a script 'Milwaukee' and numbers in red with white trim; the following season they used the same formula for their home uniforms. In the 1976-77 NBA season
1976-77 NBA season
The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Portland Trail Blazers winning the NBA Championship, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
the road uniforms reverted back to the block 'Milwaukee' lettering while retaining the script home uniform. The shorts feature the alternate Bucks logo on the left leg.
In the 1978-79 NBA season
1978-79 NBA season
The 1978–79 NBA season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Seattle SuperSonics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Washington Bullets 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals, a rematch of the previous year's Finals, but with the opposite...
, the Bucks redesigned their uniforms, now featuring side stripes of various shades of green, inspired from the Rainbow Guts
Rainbow Guts
The Rainbow Guts uniform is a nickname for a series of uniform styles worn by the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club from 1975 to 1993...
uniforms of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Both the hunter green and white uniforms feature the streamlined 'Bucks' lettering from the team logo and block lettering. They removed the color red prior to the 1985-86 NBA season
1985-86 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
.
Coinciding with the logo change in the 1993-94 NBA season
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, the Bucks also changed uniforms. The purple road uniforms feature a modernized 'Bucks' lettering from their logo and numbers in silver with hunter green trim, with green side stripes. The home white uniforms feature the said lettering and numbers in hunter green with silver trim, with purple side stripes. The stripes were extended to the jersey in the 2001-02 NBA season
2001-02 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs*Rookie of the Year: Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies*Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons...
.
In the 1995-96 NBA season
1995-96 NBA season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association , although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season...
the Bucks unveiled a hunter green alternate uniform. The script 'Bucks' lettering is in white fading to silver and purple and numbers are in white with green and purple trim. The uniform featured the graphic deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
logo on the right side. They were used until the 1997-98 NBA season
1997-98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals...
The Bucks' current home uniform is white with hunter green stripes on the sides. Inside each green stripe is a thinner red stripe that splits into two stripes near the shoulders. The writing simply says "Bucks". The numbers are green with a red outline. Milwaukee has two road uniforms. The primary one is hunter green and the same design as the home uniform, however the thicker stripe is red, and the thinner one is white. It also says "Bucks", and the numbers are white with a silver highlight and red outline. Both uniforms were introduced in the 2006-07 NBA season
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
. The secondary road uniform is red, introduced in the 2008-09 NBA season. It is made to resemble the 1960s-1980s uniforms. It says "Milwaukee" in white and silver writing, along with the numbers.
Basketball Hall of Famers
- Oscar RobertsonOscar RobertsonOscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
, G-F, 1970–1974, Class of 1980 - Dave CowensDave CowensDavid William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
, C-F, 1982–1983, Class of 1991 - Tiny Archibald, G, 1983–1984, Class of 1991
- Bob LanierBob Lanier (basketball)Robert Jerry "Bob" Lanier, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992....
, C, 1979–1984, Class of 1992 - Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, C, 1969–1975, Class of 1995 - Alex EnglishAlex EnglishAlexander English is a retired American basketball player and former assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association who played at the forward position...
, F, 1976–1978, Class of 1997 - Wayne EmbryWayne EmbryWayne Richard Embry is a retired American basketball player; a center/forward whose 11-year career spanned from 1959 to 1969...
, General Manager, 1971–1979, Class of 1999 (contributor) - Moses MaloneMoses MaloneMoses Eugene Malone is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association...
, C-F 1991–1993, Class of 2001 - Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
, F-G, 1990–1991, Class of 2008
Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
was drafted by the Bucks in 1972, but he never played a game with Milwaukee.
Retired numbers
- 1 Oscar RobertsonOscar RobertsonOscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
, G, 1970–74 - 2 Junior BridgemanJunior BridgemanUlysses Lee "Junior" Bridgeman is a retired American basketball player.Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Bridgeman was a member of the 1971 East Chicago Washington High School Senators basketball team, which went undefeated and won the Indiana state high school basketball championship...
, F, 1975–84 & 1986–87 - 4 Sidney MoncriefSidney MoncriefSidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
, G, 1979–89 - 14 Jon McGlocklinJon McGlocklinJon P. McGlocklin is an American former professional basketball player.A sharpshooting 6'5" guard from Indiana University, McGlockin was selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the third round of the 1965 NBA Draft, but he is best known for his 8-season tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he...
, G, 1968–76 - 16 Bob LanierBob Lanier (basketball)Robert Jerry "Bob" Lanier, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992....
, C, 1980–84 - 32 Brian WintersBrian WintersBrian Joseph Winters is a former NBA guard/forward, coach and former WNBA head coach. He attended academic and athletic powerhouse Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, NY, graduating in 1970. He then played collegiately with the University of South Carolina and was the 12th pick in the 1974...
, G, 1975–83 - 33 Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, C, 1969–75
Originally the retired numbers' banner was patterned after the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
' retired banners, with seven numbers placed in one banner. During the 40th anniversary celebrations, the banner was replaced by individual player banners designed to the Bucks jerseys they wore during their playing careers. In the ceremonies, the player's number was retired again to the rafters, and in the process were given framed Bucks jerseys in the current uniform design.
First overall picks
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
(as Lew Alcindor) – 1969
- Kent BensonKent BensonMichael Kent Benson is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.-1969-1973:...
– 1977
- Glenn RobinsonGlenn RobinsonGlenn A. "Big Dog" Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He last played during the 2004–05 season.-Early life:...
– 1994
- Andrew BogutAndrew BogutAndrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
– 2005
Hall of Famers
- Wayne EmbryWayne EmbryWayne Richard Embry is a retired American basketball player; a center/forward whose 11-year career spanned from 1959 to 1969...
(Former general manager; inducted as a contributor. When he became GM of the Bucks in 1971, he was the first African-American to serve in that position in the NBA. He would later go on to be the NBA's first African-American team president with the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
.)
Current coaching staff
- Head Coach: Scott SkilesScott SkilesScott Allen Skiles is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and former American professional basketball player. He also is the former head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Skiles holds the NBA record for assists in one game, with 30...
- Assistant Coaches: Kelvin SampsonKelvin SampsonKelvin Sampson is an assistant coach of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. He previously was a men's college basketball coach at Montana Tech , Washington State University , the University of Oklahoma and Indiana University .-Early life and coaching:Sampson was born in the...
, Jim BoylanJim BoylanJim Boylan is an American basketball coach. He served as the interim head coach for the Chicago Bulls until he was dismissed on April 17, 2008. The Milwaukee Bucks hired him as an assistant coach on May 14, 2008.- Playing career :...
, Joe WolfJoe WolfJoseph "Joe" James Wolf is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He was the 13th overall pick of the 1987 NBA Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina...
General manager history
- John EricksonJohn E. Erickson (Wisconsin politician)John Erickson was a former general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team and the losing Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin in 1970.-Background:...
- Ray PattersonRay Patterson (basketball)Raymond Albert Patterson, Jr. was general manager of the NBA's Houston Rockets from 1972 to 1990. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 1977, and his Rockets appeared in the NBA Finals in 1981 and 1986. Among his most notable player acquisitions were Ralph Sampson in 1983 and Hakeem Olajuwon...
- Wayne EmbryWayne EmbryWayne Richard Embry is a retired American basketball player; a center/forward whose 11-year career spanned from 1959 to 1969...
- Mike DunleavyMike Dunleavy, Sr.Michael Joseph Dunleavy is a retired American professional basketball player, former head coach, and former general manager of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. He is the father of Indiana Pacers player Mike Dunleavy, Jr.-Early life:...
- Bob Weinhauer
- Ernie GrunfeldErnie GrunfeldErnest "Ernie" Grunfeld is the General Manager of the Washington Wizards. He was also once a professional basketball player...
- Larry HarrisLarry HarrisLarry Harris served as the General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003 until March 19, 2008. He is currently an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.Harris is the son of former National Basketball Association coach Del Harris...
- John HammondJohn Hammond (basketball)John Hammond is the current general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association, having succeeded Larry Harris on April 11, 2008. Previously, Hammond had been an assistant GM with the Detroit Pistons, where he had also worked as an assistant coach...
Individual awards
NBA MVP of the Year- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1971, 1972, 1974
NBA Finals MVP
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1971
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
- Sidney MoncriefSidney MoncriefSidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
– 1983, 1984
NBA Rookie of the Year
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1970
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's most valuable player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute . A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout...
- Ricky PierceRicky PierceRicky Charles Pierce is a retired American National Basketball Association player.-Playing career:...
– 1987, 1990
NBA Coach of the Year
NBA Coach of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships from 1956 to 1966...
- Don NelsonDon NelsonDonald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
– 1983, 1985
NBA Executive of the Year
NBA Executive of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best general managers. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year is presented annually by Sporting News, although it is officially recognized by the NBA. Since then,...
- John HammondJohn Hammond (basketball)John Hammond is the current general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association, having succeeded Larry Harris on April 11, 2008. Previously, Hammond had been an assistant GM with the Detroit Pistons, where he had also worked as an assistant coach...
- 2010
All-NBA First Team
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 - Marques JohnsonMarques JohnsonMarques Kevin Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks , Los Angeles Clippers , and Golden State Warriors ....
– 1979 - Sidney MoncriefSidney MoncriefSidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
– 1983
All-NBA Second Team
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1970 - Oscar RobertsonOscar RobertsonOscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
– 1971 - Marques JohnsonMarques JohnsonMarques Kevin Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks , Los Angeles Clippers , and Golden State Warriors ....
– 1980, 1981 - Sidney MoncriefSidney MoncriefSidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
– 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 - Terry CummingsTerry CummingsRobert Terrell "Terry" Cummings is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons as a power forward and occasional center.-College and NBA years:...
– 1985
All-NBA Third Team
- Terry CummingsTerry CummingsRobert Terrell "Terry" Cummings is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons as a power forward and occasional center.-College and NBA years:...
– 1989 - Vin BakerVin BakerVincent Lamont Baker is a former American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. He appeared in four consecutive All-Star Games before his career was halted due to alcoholism....
– 1997 - Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
– 2001 - Michael ReddMichael ReddMichael Wesley Redd is an American professional basketball player who currently is a free agent. He has most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. He also was a member of the U.S...
– 2004 - Andrew BogutAndrew BogutAndrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
- 2010
NBA All-Defensive First Team
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1974, 1975 - Sidney MoncriefSidney MoncriefSidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
– 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 - Paul PresseyPaul PresseyPaul Matthew Pressey is an American former professional basketball player. Pressey is widely, though unofficially, credited with being the originator of the point forward position, combining the attributes of a point guard and forward...
– 1985, 1986 - Alvin RobertsonAlvin RobertsonAlvin Cyrrale Robertson is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1984 to 1993, and for one final season in 1995–96.-Career:...
– 1991
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1970, 1971 - Quinn BucknerQuinn BucknerWilliam Quinn Buckner, commonly known as Quinn Buckner is a former American professional basketball player and coach. He played collegiately at Indiana University, and was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 7th pick of the 1976 NBA Draft...
– 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982 - Sidney MoncriefSidney MoncriefSidney A. Moncrief is a retired American professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975–1979, Moncrief led the University of Arkansas Razorbacks trio known as "The Triplets" to the 1978 Final Four, which ended in a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame...
– 1982 - Paul PresseyPaul PresseyPaul Matthew Pressey is an American former professional basketball player. Pressey is widely, though unofficially, credited with being the originator of the point forward position, combining the attributes of a point guard and forward...
– 1987 - Alvin RobertsonAlvin RobertsonAlvin Cyrrale Robertson is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1984 to 1993, and for one final season in 1995–96.-Career:...
– 1990
NBA Rookie First Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
– 1970 - Bob DandridgeBob DandridgeRobert L. "Bob" Dandridge is a retired American professional basketball player.-Early years:He attended Maggie L. Walker High School in Richmond, Virginia and Norfolk State University, teaming up with Pee Wee Kirkland. His teams had phenomenal years...
– 1970 - Marques JohnsonMarques JohnsonMarques Kevin Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks , Los Angeles Clippers , and Golden State Warriors ....
– 1978 - Vin BakerVin BakerVincent Lamont Baker is a former American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. He appeared in four consecutive All-Star Games before his career was halted due to alcoholism....
– 1994 - Glenn RobinsonGlenn RobinsonGlenn A. "Big Dog" Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He last played during the 2004–05 season.-Early life:...
– 1995 - Andrew BogutAndrew BogutAndrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
– 2005 - Brandon JenningsBrandon JenningsBrandon Jennings is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association who plays at point guard....
- 2010
NBA Rookie Second Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
- Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
– 1997 - T. J. FordT. J. FordTerrance Jerod "T. J." Ford is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for KK Zagreb. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA Draft and was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks...
– 2004
Broadcasters
Since the 2005-06 season, all Bucks games not nationally broadcast have aired exclusively on regional cable television over Fox Sports Wisconsin; before that throughout the 1970s until 1999, WVTVWVTV
WVTV is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA and serves as Southeast Wisconsin's The CW Television Network affiliate. The station broadcasts from the Milwaukee Public Television tower on Milwaukee's northeast side with WMVS/WMVT, along with WCGV , WVTV's sister station...
(Channel 18) in Milwaukee aired mostly road games over a statewide network of stations in other markets, and from 1999–2005, WCGV-TV
WCGV-TV
WCGV-TV, digital channel 25 , is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, affiliated with MyNetworkTV Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin, including the cities of Racine, Kenosha, Sheboygan and Waukesha...
(Channel 24) shared games with Fox Sports Wisconsin. Since 1986, Jim Paschke
Jim Paschke
Jim Paschke is an American sportscaster. A native of Bloomington, Minnesota he began his broadcasting career in radio in Knoxville, Iowa after studying at the University of Minnesota and Brown Institute in Minneapolis...
has been the team's TV announcer, with former Buck Jon McGlocklin
Jon McGlocklin
Jon P. McGlocklin is an American former professional basketball player.A sharpshooting 6'5" guard from Indiana University, McGlockin was selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the third round of the 1965 NBA Draft, but he is best known for his 8-season tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he...
providing color commentary for the team since 1976.
On the radio side the team has been carried by WTMJ Radio
WTMJ (AM)
WTMJ is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting at 620 AM. It is a 50,000-watt station airing a format of news, talk and sports. WTMJ is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, which also owns the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and sister station WLWK-FM....
(620) and throughout the state on the Bucks Radio Network (which is sponsored by Marshfield Clinic
Marshfield Clinic
Marshfield Clinic is a health care system in northern, central and western Wisconsin, with 2 hospitals and 52 community care centers as of June, 2010. It was founded in 1916 by six local physicians: K.W. Doege, William Hipke, Victor Mason, Walter G. Sexton, H.H. Milbee, and Roy P...
) for most of the team's history. Ted Davis
Ted Davis (sportscaster)
Ted Davis is the radio play-by-play voice of the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was formerly the play-by-play voice of the Dallas Mavericks.-Broadcasting career:Davis began his broadcasting career in Denton, Texas when he was hired by KDNT at the age of 17...
announces, with former WTMJ-TV
WTMJ-TV
WTMJ-TV, digital channel 28 ; branded as "Today's TMJ4", is the NBC-affiliated television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the flagship station of the Journal Broadcast Group. Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin and parts of northeastern Illinois, including Racine, Kenosha,...
sports director Dennis Krause providing color and serving as solo announcer on nights where Davis has a broadcasting assignment elsewhere.