The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team, competing in the National Basketball Association. The team has won two league championships (1971, 2021), three conference titles (Western: 1971, 1974, Eastern: 2021), and 19 division titles (1971–1974, 1976, 1980–1986, 2001, 2019–2024). They have featured such notable players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Bob Dandridge, Sidney Moncrief, Bob Lanier, Terry Cummings, Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton among others. Abdul-Jabbar and Antetokounmpo have been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player while playing for the Bucks, for a total of five MVP awards. They both are also the only players to win Finals MVP for the franchise. The Bucks are the only team to have won a championship in both the Eastern and Western Conference.
1968–1969: Team creation On January 22, 1968, a franchise was awarded by the NBA to Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services (shortened to Milwaukee Pro), a group headed by businessmen Wesley Pavlon and Marvin Fishman. Over 40,000 fans participated in the contest to name the team, with the name Robins winning, however, the owners of the team decided to go with the second-most popular name, Bucks, in reference to Wisconsin's state wild animal, the white-tailed deer. A fan, R. D. Trebilcox, famously suggested the name, quoting that Bucks were "spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile". As an award for the part he played in the naming of the team, he was gifted a new car. After 13 years, an NBA franchise had returned to Milwaukee after the Hawks relocated to the city of St. Louis. in Expansion draft notable players selected of Wayne Embry, Guy Rodgers and Jon McGlocklin. On October 16, 1968, the Bucks played their first NBA regular-season match, against the Chicago Bulls, before a meagre crowd of 8,467 people. They won only 27 games in the year.
1969–1975: The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era
The Bucks faced off in a coin flip between their fellow expansion team of that year, the Phoenix Suns. By that point, the general consensus around the league was that Lew Alcindor would be selected as the first pick. While the Bucks won the first pick, they had to win a bidding war with the New York Nets of the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). They were successful, and drafted Alcindor with the first pick. The Bucks also selected Bob Dandridge in fourth round.
1970–1971: First Championship In 1970 the Bucks acquired Oscar Robertson from the Cincinnati Royals in exchange for Flynn Robinson. They also acquired Bob Boozer and second year guard Lucius Allen from the Seattle SuperSonics. Before the season, the Bucks switched to being a Western Conference team. Robertson and Alcindor were a dominant duo, leading the bucks to 66 wins for the year. During the year, they had a then-NBA record 20 wins in a row. Robertson led the team to their first title in 1971, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets in four games.
1971–1973: Loss in the Conference Finals In the beginning of the 1971-72 season the Bucks started with a 7-1 record.
In 1972, Alcindor announced his name change to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after he had privately converted to Islam. With Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson leading the way, the Bucks remained a powerhouse for the remainder of the early 1970s. The Bucks reached the Conference Finals for the third year in a row but were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in a six-game series.
1973–1974: Conference Championship
In 1973, the Bucks recorded their third 60+ win season in a row, but suffered many injuries and recorded an early exit from the playoffs. Come 1974, the Bucks returned to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. During Game 6, Abdul-Jabbar first made his iconic "sky hook' shot in an exciting double-overtime win. However, the Celtics won Game 7, and their efforts went unrewarded.
1974–1975: Missing the Playoffs
When Oscar Robertson retired the Bucks finished last in their division, a stark contrast to their successes in prior years, even while maintaining the services of their superstar Abdul-Jabbar.
1975–1979: Rebuilding
On June 16, 1975 the Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters and two rookies, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman. The Bucks finished the 1975-76 season with a record 38-44 and won the division title; however the Bucks lost to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs.
In offseason the Bucks drafted Quinn Buckner in first round and Alex English in second round.
On November 13, 1976 the Bucks hired Don Nelson as the second head coach in franchise history.
In the 1977 NBA Draft the Bucks selected Kent Benson with the number one pick, Marques Johnson with the third pick and Ernie Grunfeld with the eleventh pick. On November 25, 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, and on the road, the Bucks overcame the largest 4th quarter deficit in NBA history, defeating the Atlanta Hawks after being down by 29 points with only 8:43 left in the game. Atlanta led 111–82 before Milwaukee went on a 35–4 run to win 117–115 in regulation. The Bucks finished the 1977-78 season with 44-38 as their record, behind the Denver Nuggets. In 1978 NBA playoffs the Bucks sweep the Phoenix Suns in first round in two games and then they lost to the Denver Nuggets of Conference Semifinals in seven games.
1979–1989: The Sidney Moncrief era On June 25, 1979, the Bucks selected Sidney Moncrief with the fifth pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. As well the Bucks acquired Harvey Catchings and Richard Washington and 1978 3rd round draft pick Pat Cummings. The Bucks started the 1979-80 season with a 29-27 record. On February 4, 1980 the Bucks acquired Bob Lanier from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Kent Benson and a first round pick. The Bucks finished the season with a record of 49-33 and won their division title for first time since the 1975-76 season. In the playoffs the Bucks faced the defending champions, the Seattle SuperSonics. They lost in a close seven game series.
Before the 1980-81 season, the Bucks switched to being in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The Bucks won the division title for the second straight year but they lost against the defending Eastern Conference champion, the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games.
In 1981-82 season the Bucks won their third straight division title but they lost against the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
In the offseason of 1982, the Bucks acquired Dave Cowens from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Quinn Buckner and they finished the season with a record of 51-31 and won their fourth straight division title, and in the playoffs the Bucks swept the Boston Celtics in four games, but they lost against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Finals.
In the offseason of 1983, the Bucks signed guards Nate Archibald and Kevin Grevey, and they finished the season with a record of 50-32. In the playoffs the Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round in five games then the Bucks beat the New Jersey Nets in the Conference Semifinals and before they eventually lost to that year's champion, the Boston Celtics in the conference finals.
In the offseason of 1984, the Bucks acquired Terry Cummings, Craig Hodges and Ricky Pierce form the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Junior Bridgeman, Harvey Catchings and Marques Johnson, and the Bucks finished the 1984-85 season with a record of 59-23 and won division title for the sixth straight time in the last six seasons. In 1985 NBA Playoffs the Bucks beat the Bulls in four games of the first round and they lost against the Philadelphia 76ers in four games.
In the offseason of 1986, the Bucks acquired Jack Sikma from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Alton Lister.
In 1987 Del Harris was named as their new head coach. The Bucks started the 1987-88 Season without Moncrief in 17th games until he returns on December 11, 1987 when the Bucks played against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the trade period, the Bucks acquired Larry Krystkowiak from the San Antonio Spurs and Jay Humphries from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Craig Hodges.
Before the 1988-89 season, the Bucks moved into their new arena, the Bradley Center, then acquired Fred Roberts from the expansion team, the Miami Heat and drafted Iowa State guard Jeff Grayer with the 13th pick. The Bucks season begin with a struggled with a 3–4 start to the regular season, but later on posted a six-game winning streak in January, and held a 30–15 record at the All-Star break. The team finished in fourth place in the Division with a 49–33 record, and earned the fifth seed in the Conference. In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Bucks lost Game 1 to the 4th-seeded Atlanta Hawks on the road, 100–92, but managed to beat them in five games. However the Bucks lost to eventual champions Detroit Pistons in four straight games.
1989–1994: Hard period for the team. In the 1989 offseason, Sidney Moncrief retired after ten seasons with the team and Terry Cummings was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for All-Star guard Alvin Robertson and Greg Anderson. Early into the season, the Bucks defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in a quintuple-overtime game on November 9, 155–154 at the Bradley Center. In the trade period, the Bucks acquired Brad Lohaus from the Minnesota Timberwolves, an expansion team, in exchange for Randy Breuer. The Bucks finished Third in division and made playoffs. In the playoffs the Bucks lost against Chicago Bulls in four games.
In the 1990 offseason, the Bucks acquired Frank Brickowski from the San Antonio Spurs and Danny Schayes from the Denver Nuggets. The Bucks started the season on a strong note winning their first 18 home games on their way to a 25–8 start. However, they would lose ten of their next twelve games, and held a 30–19 record at the All-Star break. Sixth man Ricky Pierce and Alvin Robertson were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game; it was Pierce's only All-Star appearance. During the trade period, Pierce was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dale Ellis. In April, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Adrian Dantley, as Ellis went down with a lower back injury. The Bucks would make their 12th consecutive playoff appearance finishing third in the Central Division with a 48–34 record, while posting a 33–8 home record at the Bradley Center. However, without Ellis in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bucks were swept by the 5th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in three straight games.
In the offseason 1991, the Bucks signed free agent and former All-Star forward Moses Malone. After an 8–9 start to the season, head coach Del Harris resigned and was replaced with interim Frank Hamblen.
On May 11, 1992, the Bucks hired Mike Dunleavy as their new head coach. On June 24, 1992 the Bucks acquired Blue Edwards and second-year guard Eric Murdock from the Utah Jazz. Later that day, the Bucks selected Arkansas guards Todd Day and Lee Mayberry in the 1992 NBA Draft. The Bucks got off to a strong start, winning 10 of their first 13 games. However, they would struggle as they went on an 11-game losing streak in December, then posted a 7-game losing streak in January, and held a 20–31 record at the All-Star break. In midseason the Bucks traded away Alvin Robertson to the Detroit Pistons for Orlando Woolridge. The Bucks lost their final eight games of the season, finishing last place in the Central Division with a disappointing 28–54 record.
After the franchise's 25th anniversary in 1993, the Bucks overhauled their logo and uniforms. The colors were green, purple, and silver. The old logo, which featured a cartoonish deer, was replaced in favor of a more realistic one. The primary color scheme was altered as well, when red was supplanted by purple. Purple road uniforms replaced the former green away uniforms.