TheMilwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team, competing in theNational 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 asKareem Abdul-Jabbar,Oscar Robertson,Bob Dandridge,Sidney Moncrief,Bob Lanier,Terry Cummings,Glenn Robinson,Ray Allen,Michael Redd,Giannis Antetokounmpo, andKhris Middleton among others. Abdul-Jabbar and Antetokounmpo have been named the NBA'sMost Valuable Player while playing for the Bucks, for a total of five MVP awards. They both are also the only players to winFinals MVP for the franchise. The Bucks are the only team to have won a championship in both theEastern andWestern Conference.
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.[1] Over 40,000 fans participated in the contest to name the team, with the nameRobins 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, thewhite-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.[2] After 13 years, an NBA franchise had returned to Milwaukee after theHawks relocated to the city ofSt. Louis. in Expansion draft notable players selected ofWayne Embry,Guy Rodgers andJon McGlocklin. On October 16, 1968, the Bucks played their first NBA regular-season match, against theChicago Bulls, before a meagre crowd of 8,467 people. They won only 27 games in the year.
The Bucks faced off in a coin flip between their fellow expansion team of that year, thePhoenix Suns.[3] By that point, the general consensus around the league was thatLew Alcindor would be selected as the first pick. While the Bucks won the first pick, they had to win a bidding war with theNew York Nets of the rivalAmerican Basketball Association (ABA). They were successful, and drafted Alcindor with the first pick.[4] The Bucks also selectedBob Dandridge in fourth round.
In 1970 the Bucks acquiredOscar Robertson from theCincinnati Royals in exchange forFlynn Robinson.[5] They also acquiredBob Boozer and second year guardLucius Allen from theSeattle SuperSonics. Before the season, the Bucks switched to being aWestern 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 in1971, sweeping theBaltimore Bullets in four games.[6]
In the beginning of the 1971-72 season the Bucks started with a 7-1 record.
In 1972, Alcindor announced his name change toKareem Abdul-Jabbar after he had privately converted to Islam.[7] With Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson leading the way, the Bucks remained a powerhouse for the remainder of the early 1970s. The Bucks reached theConference Finals for the third year in a row but were eliminated by theLos Angeles Lakers in a six-game series.
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 theBoston Celtics. During Game 6, Abdul-Jabbar first made his iconic "sky hook' shot in an exciting double-overtime win.[8] However, the Celtics won Game 7, and their efforts went unrewarded.
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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.
On June 16, 1975 the Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to theLos Angeles Lakers in exchange forElmore Smith,Brian Winters and two rookies,Dave Meyers andJunior Bridgeman.[9] The Bucks finished the 1975-76 season with a record 38-44 and won the division title; however the Bucks lost to theDetroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs.
In offseason the Bucks draftedQuinn Buckner in first round andAlex English in second round.
On November 13, 1976 the Bucks hiredDon Nelson as the second head coach in franchise history.[10]
In the1977 NBA Draft the Bucks selectedKent Benson with the number one pick,Marques Johnson with the third pick andErnie Grunfeld with the eleventh pick.[11] 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 theDenver Nuggets. In1978 NBA playoffs the Bucks sweep thePhoenix Suns in first round in two games and then they lost to the Denver Nuggets of Conference Semifinals in seven games.
On June 25, 1979, the Bucks selectedSidney Moncrief with the fifth pick in the1979 NBA Draft. As well the Bucks acquiredHarvey Catchings andRichard Washington and 1978 3rd round draft pickPat Cummings. The Bucks started the 1979-80 season with a 29-27 record. On February 4, 1980 the Bucks acquiredBob Lanier from the Detroit Pistons in exchange forKent 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, theSeattle SuperSonics. They lost in a close seven game series.
Before the 1980-81 season, the Bucks switched to being in theCentral Division of theEastern Conference. The Bucks won the division title for the second straight year but they lost against the defending Eastern Conference champion, thePhiladelphia 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 acquiredDave 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 guardsNate Archibald andKevin Grevey,[12] 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 theNew 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 acquiredTerry Cummings,Craig Hodges andRicky Pierce form theLos Angeles Clippers in exchange for Junior Bridgeman, Harvey Catchings and Marques Johnson,[13] 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. In1985 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 acquiredJack Sikma from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange forAlton Lister.
In 1987Del Harris was named as their new head coach.[14] The Bucks started the 1987-88 Season without Moncrief in 17th games until he returns on December 11, 1987 when the Bucks played against thePortland Trail Blazers. In the trade period, the Bucks acquiredLarry Krystkowiak from theSan Antonio Spurs andJay Humphries from thePhoenix Suns in exchange for Craig Hodges.
Before the 1988-89 season, the Bucks moved into their new arena, theBradley Center, then acquiredFred Roberts from the expansion team, theMiami Heat and drafted Iowa State guardJeff 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 the1989 NBA playoffs, the Bucks lost Game 1 to the 4th-seededAtlanta Hawks on the road, 100–92, but managed to beat them in five games. How ever the Bucks lost to eventual champions Detroit Pistons in four straight games.
In the 1989 offseason, Sidney Moncrief retired after ten seasons with the team and Terry Cummings was traded to theSan Antonio Spurs for All-Star guardAlvin Robertson andGreg 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 acquiredBrad Lohaus from theMinnesota Timberwolves, an expansion team, in exchange forRandy 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 acquiredFrank Brickowski from the San Antonio Spurs andDanny Schayes from theDenver 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 the1991 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 forDale Ellis.[15] In April, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forwardAdrian Dantley,[16] 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 forwardMoses Malone.[17] After an 8–9 start to the season, head coachDel Harris resigned and was replaced with interimFrank Hamblen.
On May 11, 1992, the Bucks hiredMike Dunleavy as their new head coach.[18] On June 24, 1992 the Bucks acquiredBlue Edwards and second-year guardEric Murdock from theUtah Jazz. Later that day, the Bucks selected Arkansas guardsTodd Day andLee Mayberry in the1992 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 forOrlando 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.
In the1993 NBA Draft the Bucks selectedVin Baker with the eighth pick.[19] In offseason the Bucks signedKen Norman. The 1993-94 season began with struggled all season long posting a 10-game losing streak early into the season, and held a 14–34 record at the All-Star break.
In1994 NBA Draft, the Bucks won the #1 pick and they selected "Big Dog"Glenn Robinson out ofPurdue University.[20] After the Bucks got 5–3 start to the season, the Bucks went on a nine-game losing streak between November and December.
In offseason The Bucks received the eleventh overall pick in the1995 NBA draft, and selectedGary Trent out ofOhio University, but soon traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for shooting guard, and top draft pickShawn Respert out ofMichigan State University they also re-signed Terry Cummings, and acquired former All-Star centerKevin Duckworth from theWashington Bullets. Early into the regular season, they tradedTodd Day andAlton Lister to theBoston Celtics in exchange forSherman Douglas, and dealtEric Murdock and second-year forwardEric Mobley to the expansionVancouver Grizzlies in exchange forBenoit Benjamin. However, the team continued to underachieve holding an 18–27 record at the All-Star break. After holding a 21–35 record as of March 2, 1996, and with Duckworth only playing just eight games due to a knee injury sustained during the preseason, the team suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak in March. The Bucks missed the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, finishing in seventh place in the Central Division with a disappointing 25–57 record. Following the season, head coach Mike Dunleavy was fired after coaching the Bucks for four seasons.
In1996 NBA Draft, the Bucks traded for the draft rights toRay Allen with theMinnesota Timberwolves, in exchange for the draft rights toStephon Marbury.[21] The Bucks appeared to be on their way breaking out of the gate with a 15–11 start. However, they could not maintain that momentum as they slipped under .500, holding a 21–26 record at the All-Star break. The Bucks lost eight straight games between February and March and missing the playoffs sixth time in last sixth season with a 33–49 record.
In offseason 1997 the Bucks acquiredTyrone Hill andTerrell Brandon from three-teams deal. After an 11–8 start to the 1997-98 season, the Bucks slipped under .500, but then posted a six-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 24–23 record at the All-Star break. However, with Glenn Robinson out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury after 56 games, the Bucks struggled and went on a nine-game losing streak in March; Brandon only played just 50 games due to an ankle injury, and Hill only played 57 games due to a knee injury, and a strained back. The Bucks finished in seventh place in the Central Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons.
In the1998 NBA draft the Bucks selected German basketball starDirk Nowitzki, but soon traded him to theDallas Mavericks in exchange for power forward, and top draft pickRobert Traylor from theUniversity of Michigan. On August 29, 1998 the Bucks hired formerSeattle SuperSonics head coachGeorge Karl as the next head coach of the team[22] As well they signedDell Curry andVinny Del Negro in the offseason. During the trade period, the Bucks acquiredSam Cassell,Tim Thomas,Scott Williams andChris Gatling from a four-team deal.[23] The Bucks made the playoffs for the first time since 1991 but they lost to theIndiana Pacers in the first round in three games.
In the offseason, the Bucks acquiredDanny Manning and Dale Ellis[24] and signedJ. R. Reid andDarvin Ham. After missing most of the previous season with an ankle injury, Sam Cassell played a full season as the Bucks won their first three games, and played above .500 in the first half of the season, holding a 26–24 record at the All-Star break. However, they struggled in February posting a 3–9 record as Ellis was traded to the Charlotte Hornets and Haywoode Workman was released to free agency and signed with the Toronto Raptors. With less than a month to go, the Bucks playoff chances appeared bleak as they had a 32–37 record in late March. However, down the stretch, they won 10 of their final 13 games to sneak into the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing fifth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.
In the 2000-01 season, the Bucks got off to a rough start losing nine of their first twelve games, but would win 23 of their next 29 games while posting an 8-game winning streak in January, and holding a 29–18 record at the All-Star break and won the division title for the first time since the 1985-86 season. In playoffs the Bucks defeated theOrlando Magic in four games of the first round. It was the first time the Bucks made it out of the NBA playoffs' first round since 1988–89 season. In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they trailed 3–2 against the 6th-seeded Charlotte Hornets, but managed to win the series in seven games, advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 1986. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Bucks faced regular season MVP Allen Iverson and the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks took a 2–1 series lead, but would lose to the Sixers in seven games. Williams, who had started every game during the Bucks' postseason run, was controversially suspended hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals series, when a flagrant one foul was upgraded to a flagrant two foul after the game had ended.
In offseason 2001 the Bucks trade away Scott Williams to the Denver Nuggets and signingAnthony Mason. The Bucks got off to a solid start by winning nine of their first ten games of the 2001-02 season, but then lost five straight afterwards. The team posted an 8-game winning streak in January, which led them to a division-leading record of 26–13 as of January 21, 2002 and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. However, with a 35–25 record as of March 6, the Bucks struggled and lost 16 of their final 22 games of the season, and missed the NBA playoffs by finishing in fifth place in the Central Division with a 41–41 record; on the final day of the regular season, the Bucks suffered an embarrassing 123–89 road loss to the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 17, 2002. This was one of the biggest late-season collapses for a team that was contending for a Division title in March.
In offseason 2002 the Bucks trade Glenn Robinson to theAtlanta Hawks exchange forToni Kukoč,Leon Smith and 1st round pick. In 2002-03 season of transition for the Bucks played mediocre basketball with a 14–20 start, but then won 13 of their next 16 games, and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break. In February 2003, just before the trading deadline, the Bucks dealt 3-time All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for 34 year-old All-Star point guardGary Payton andDesmond Mason.[25]
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In the summer of 2003, the Bucks hiredLarry Harris as their next general manager. During the new era,Michael Redd blossomed into an all-star and a perimeter shooting threat, becoming the new "face of the franchise". The Bucks finished the season with a record of 41-41 and made the playoffs, and in the2004 NBA Playoffs the Bucks faced off against theDetroit Pistons, losing in five games.
The Bucks received the first pick in the2005 NBA draft, and used it to select centerAndrew Bogut. In the offseason, the Bucks hiredTerry Stotts as their new head coach. Stotts was under George Karl's coaching staff, and they signed formerNBA Most Improved PlayerBobby Simmons, and in October the Bucks tradedDesmond Mason to theNew Orleans Hornets in exchange forJamaal Magloire.[26] The Bucks Finished last place in Division and made the playoffs but they lost to theDetroit Pistons in first round in five games.
In the2007 NBA Draft the Bucks selected Chinese basketball starYi Jianlian with the sixth pick.[27]
On April 11, 2008 the Bucks hired former Detroit Pistons vice-president of basketball operationsJohn Hammond as their next general manager of the team.[28]
On April 17 the Bucks fired Krystkowiak after a full season, four days later the Bucks hired former Chicago Bulls head coachScott Skiles as their new head coach.[29]
On June 26, 2008 the Bucks acquiredRichard Jefferson from theNew Jersey Nets in exchange for Yi and Simmons. Later that day, the Bucks selected West Virginia'sJoe Alexander with the eighth pick in the2008 NBA draft.[30] Alexander was the first Taiwanese-born player in the NBA, and they selected UCLA'sLuc Richard Mbah a Moute with the 37th pick in the 2008 draft.[31] Mbah a Moute was the second Cameroonian player in the NBA. In the 2008-09 season, the Bucks struggled with injuries to two key players, Redd and Bogut,[32] and finished with a record of 34-48.
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In the2009 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected point guardBrandon Jennings, who had not gone to college but played inItaly the previous year.[33] In the offseason, the Bucks made additions to the roster, such asKurt Thomas,Carlos Delfino andErsan İlyasova.[34] The Bucks began the 2009–10 season with struggles with a record of 12-18 through December, then during the season, the Bucks signedJerry Stackhouse,[35] and in February the Bucks acquiredJohn Salmons from theChicago Bulls in exchange for Joe Alexander andHakim Warrick, to replace the injured of Michael Redd.[36] 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 that time that the phrase "Fear the Deer" started, most likely by ESPN commentatorJohn Anderson. It was quickly adopted on message boards and within Andrew Bogut's Squad 6.[37] In the2010 NBA Playoffs the Bucks lost to theAtlanta Hawks in seven games in the first round.
In offseason the Bucks acquiredCorey Maggette from theGolden State Warriors and third year playerChris Douglas-Roberts from theNew Jersey Nets and free agents Additions ofDrew Gooden andKeyon Dooling. The Bucks Finished 2010-11 season with record of 35-47.
In offseason 2011 the Bucks acquiredStephen Jackson,Shaun Livingston,Beno Udrih and the Draft rights toTobias Harris and signingMike Dunleavy Jr.. The Bucks began 2-1 in December. With Bogut sidelined for the rest of the season and Jackson and head coach Scott Skiles not seeing eye-to-eye, the Bucks decided to trade both players. On March 13, 2012, 48 hours before the trade deadline, the Bucks traded Bogut and Jackson to theGolden State Warriors in exchange forMonta Ellis,Ekpe Udoh, andKwame Brown. The Bucks finished the season with a 31–35 record and in 9th place in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Philadelphia 76ers, who claimed the last berth for the2012 NBA Playoffs. The regular season was reduced from its usual 82 games to 66 due to thelockout.
In offseason the Bucks acquiredSamuel Dalembert from Houston Rockets. In2012 NBA Draft the Bucks selectedJohn Henson with 14th pick.
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Jim Boylan was relieved of his coaching duties and ex-Atlanta Hawks coachLarry Drew was hired.[38] On June 27, 2013, the Bucks chose Greek forwardGiannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick of the 2013 NBA draft.[39] They also brought in O. J. Mayo, Carlos Delfino,Zaza Pachulia,[40] andGary Neal as well as seeing Monta Ellis opt-out of the final year of his contract.[41] The Bucks also agreed to sign-and-trade Brandon Jennings to the Detroit Pistons in exchange forBrandon Knight,Khris Middleton, andViacheslav Kravtsov.[42] The Bucks later extended their contract with Larry Sanders with a four-year, $44 million contract and traded Ish Smith and Kravtsov to the Phoenix Suns forCaron Butler.[43] By the start of the 2013–14 season, the Bucks only had four players on their roster from the previous season. The season itself was a struggle, as the Bucks finished with the worst record in the league at 15–67, the worst record in team history.
On June 26, 2014, the Bucks received the second overall pick in2014 NBA Draft and they choseJabari Parker out ofDuke University.
On July 1, 2014, the Bucks secured the coaching rights forJason Kidd from theBrooklyn Nets in exchange for two second-round draft picks in the2015 NBA draft and the2019 NBA draft.[44] in midseason the Bucks acquiredMichael Carter-Williams,Tyler Ennis andMiles Plumlee from from three-teams deal.
The Bucks finished the 2014–15 season with a 41–41 record. Their 26-game improvement from the previous season was the second-highest in franchise history. The Bucks made the 2015 NBA playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, where they faced the Chicago Bulls in the first round, losing in six games.[45]
On July 6, 2015, Bucks president Peter Feigin stated if public funding for a new arena fell through, the NBA could have bought the team and moved it to Las Vegas or Seattle.[46] Current Bucks owners Wes Edens, Marc Lasry and Jamie Dinan combined with Herb Kohl to pledge $250 million for a new arena and sought a match from the public. Of those funds, $93 million would come from the Wisconsin Center District in the form of new debt on Milwaukee citizens. The district would not commence repaying the bonds until 13 years thereafter.[47]
On July 9, 2015, the Bucks confirmed their signing of center Greg Monroe to a three-year, $50 million contract.[48] The Bucks also announced the club's re-signing of Khris Middleton to a five-year, $70 million contract.[49]
On July 15, 2015, the future for the Bucks in Milwaukee was solidified after the Wisconsin State Senate voted 21–10 in favor of a proposal to use public money to help finance a replacement for the BMO Harris Bradley Center, which at the time was the third-oldest arena being used by an NBA team, behind Oracle Arena, and Madison Square Garden.[50]
On the court, the young roster of the Bucks went through a step backward, to a 33–49 record in the 2015–16 season, though Giannis Antetokounmpo had an encouraging stretch in the final half of the season, accumulating 5 triple-doubles.
On June 18, 2016, ground was broken for the Bucks' new arena.[51]
On September 19, 2016, the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension.[52] In addition, the team would add new young improvements to the roster in draftingThon Maker andMalcolm Brogdon,[53] and free agents ofMatthew Dellavedova[54] andJason Terry, and made trades to bring inTony Snell andMichael Beasley.[55] When the 2016–17 season began, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton, who suffered a torn hamstring during a practice.[56] Even so, the Bucks remained competitive, staying around .500 for the first half of the season, with both Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker leading the offense. While Parker missed making the All-Star team, Antetokounmpo was voted in as a starter, becoming the first Bucks All-Star since Michael Redd in 2004.[57] In January, the Bucks slumped, though fans anticipated a turnaround with Middleton's return on February 8 against the Miami Heat. In the same game, however, Parker tore his ACL for the second time in 3 seasons, ending his season.[58] Even so, Middleton's return still sparked a turnaround in March. During the month, the Bucks went 14–4, putting the team back in the thick of the playoff race. On April 8, 2017, the Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 90–82, clinching the Bucks a playoff spot. On April 10, the Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 89–79 to clinch only the third winning season for the Bucks since 2001. The team finished the 2016–17 regular season with a 42–40 record. Giannis Antetokounmpo made history, becoming only the 5th player in NBA history to lead his team in all five major statistical categories, and was the first in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in the league in each category. The Bucks were the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and lost in the opening round to the Toronto Raptors, 4–2.
On June 16, 2017, the Bucks named Jon Horst as their new general manager. On January 22, 2018 the Bucks fired Kidd after 23-22 record. In Kidd's three and a half seasons as head coach, the Bucks had a regular-season record of 139–152 and reached the first round of the NBA playoffs in the 2014–15 and 2016–17 seasons.
On May 17, 2018, the Bucks hired former Atlanta Hawks head coachMike Budenholzer as their new head coach.[59] On August 26, 2018, the Bucks' new arena, Fiserv Forum, opened to the public. In offseason the Bucks drafted Villanova GuardDonte DiVincenzo with 17th pick and free agents Additions ofBrook Lopez,Pat Connaughton and return ofErsan İlyasova. The Bucks opened the season with seven straight wins, the first time they started a season 7–0 since1971–72. in midseason the Bucks acquiredGeorge Hill from the Cleveland Cavaliers andNikola Mirotić from theNew Orleans Pelicans and venternPau Gasol who just played three games. On March 1, 2019, with a 131–120 victory over theLos Angeles Lakers, the Bucks became the first team to secure a playoff berth in the season. Later on, The Bucks clinched their first Division Championship since2000-01. They then clinched the best record in the NBA with a win against thePhiladelphia 76ers on April 4, 2019, achieving the feat for the first time since1973–74. Eventually, the Bucks finished the regular season with a 60–22 record, the franchise's first 60-win season since1980–81. The Bucks finished 33–8 at home, the second-best home record in the NBA, behind the Denver Nuggets, and their 27–14 road record was the best in the league, tied with the Golden State Warriors. The Bucks also won all 14 of their season series against Eastern Conference opponents, and lost back-to-back games just once, resulting in their longest losing streak for the season, at two games. The Bucks had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.[60]
During the offseason, the Bucks signedGiannis Antetokounmpo to a 5-year, $228 million contract extension, which was the most high-paying contract in NBA history.[61] Along with resigning their franchise cornerstone, the Bucks also tradedEric Bledsoe andGeorge Hill to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for a former All-Defense player inJrue Holiday, which was a sound tactical move for the team.[62] The Bucks also strengthened their bench by signingBobby Portis andBryn Forbes in free agency.[63] In their 2020–21 season, the Bucks secured the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46–26 in theCOVID-19 shortened season, as well as a third Central Division title in a row. It was the third consecutive season the Bucks had a winning percentage of at least .600. This was the first time that the Bucks achieved this feat since 1984–86, during their glory days. During the season, the Bucks acquiredP. J. Tucker to further strengthen their defensive capabilities in preparation for the playoffs.[64]
In the 2021 NBA playoffs, the Bucks began by defeating theHeat in a four-game sweep in a continuation of the rivalry formed in the year before's Eastern Conference Semifinals. They then overcame the Brooklyn Nets (led byKevin Durant,Kyrie Irving andJames Harden) in seven games in the Conference Semifinals, culminating with a Game 7 victory in front of a hostile crowd at theBarclays Center. They then defeated theAtlanta Hawks in six games in the Conference Finals to secure their 3rd NBA Finals appearance in franchise history and their first since 1974. In the NBA Finals, the Bucks faced thePhoenix Suns, who were favored after defeating the defending champion, theLos Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference first round. The Bucks came back from down 2-0 to win the NBA finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo was named Finals MVP after averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks in the series including a series-winning 50-point performance in a 105-98 Game 6 victory at theFiserv Forum.[65]
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After won the World Champion The Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round in five games even without Middleton suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain, the Bucks lost to the eventual Conference champion Boston Celtics in seven games in the conference semifinals, in their third playoff matchup in five seasons.
In the 2023 offseason, the Bucks hiredAdrian Griffin to replaceMike Budenholzer. On September 27, 2023, the Bucks acquired seven-time all-star point guardDamian Lillard in a 3-team trade with thePortland Trail Blazers and theBoston Celtics, sending awayJrue Holiday.[66] This addition in the side propelled the team to a 49-33 record in the 2023-24 season. On January 23, 2024, the Bucks fired their head coach,Adrian Griffin, and replaced him withDoc Rivers, despite Griffin guiding the team to a 30-13 record at the start of the season.[67] The Bucks finished as the 3rd seed, behind the Boston Celtics and theNew York Knicks.[68] In the first round of theplayoffs, the Bucks lost to theIndiana Pacers in six games.[69]
The Bucks started 2024-25 season with a rather disappointing 2–8 start to their season before winning 8 of 9 games to reach a 10–9 record near the end of November, including a six-game winning streak near the end of that month. The Bucks held a perfect record in the NBA Cup, winning the Cup on December 17 by defeating theOklahoma City Thunder. At the 2024-25 trade deadline, the Bucks decided to re-tool their roster by trading three-time All-Star and Bucks legendKhris Middleton to theWashington Wizards in exchange forKyle Kuzma.[70]
Later in the season, the Bucks would be eliminated in the first round for the third straight season.
Peterson, Shane (2014).The History of the Milwaukee Bucks. Creative Education.
Nichols, John (2001).The History of the Milwaukee Bucks (Pro Basketball Today). Creative Co.