The Milwaukee Bucks, founded in 1968, play in the NBA's Central Division. They have won two league championships and featured legendary players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Professional basketball in Milwaukee was established in 1921, marking the beginning of the city's basketball history.
The Tri-City Blackhawks relocated to Milwaukee in 1951 and became the Milwaukee Hawks, marking the city's first NBA team. This event was significant in the history of professional basketball in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were established in 1967 as an expansion team.
The Milwaukee Bucks were established as an expansion team in the NBA in 1968.
On January 22, 1968, Milwaukee was awarded an NBA expansion franchise, leading to the birth of the Bucks. The team was named after the state's official animal, the white-tailed deer, in a contest that attracted nearly 50,000 entries.
The Milwaukee Bucks joined the NBA in 1968 and have had success, including winning the NBA championship in 1971.
On July 1, 1969, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest basketball players in history.
On April 30, 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks achieved their first and only NBA championship victory.
In the 1971-72 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks reached the Western Conference Finals but unfortunately lost. The team was led by head coach Larry Costello and star player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In the 1972-73 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks had a successful record of 60-22 but unfortunately lost in the Western Conference Semifinals. The team was coached by Larry Costello and led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In 1974, the Milwaukee Bucks reached their first NBA Finals, setting the stage for their future championship victory in 2021.
After expressing his desire to play in a larger market, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded from the Bucks to the Lakers on June 16, 1975. This trade marked the end of an era for the Bucks and triggered changes in the team's ownership.
On November 1, 1976, the Jim Fitzgerald Era commenced, marking a significant period in Milwaukee Bucks history.
On October 18, 1977, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playing for the Lakers, punched Kent Benson during a game, resulting in Abdul-Jabbar breaking his hand. This incident led to consequences for both players and affected the Bucks' roster.
A book titled 'Bucking the Odds: The Birth of the Milwaukee Bucks' was published by Marv Fishman and Tracy Dodds in 1978.
In 1979, Sidney Moncrief made his on-court debut for the Milwaukee Bucks, marking the beginning of a successful era with consistent playoff appearances throughout the 1980s.
In 1980, the Milwaukee Bucks traded Kent Benson to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for veteran center Bob Lanier. This trade was significant as it aimed to fill the gap left by Abdul-Jabbar's departure.
In the 1980-81 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks had a strong performance with a record of 60-22. However, they were defeated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the 1981-1982 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks had a record of 55-27 and made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals but were defeated. The team was led by head coach Don Nelson and key player Sidney Moncrief.
In the 1982-83 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks were defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals. The team, led by head coach Don Nelson and star player Sidney Moncrief, finished with a record of 51-31.
In the 1983-84 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks were defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals. The team had a successful season but fell short of making it to the NBA Finals.
On March 1, 1985, Herb Kohl acquired the Milwaukee Bucks.
On October 1, 1986, the concept for the BMO Harris Bradley Center was introduced.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a successful season in 1986-87, finishing with a record of 50-32 and securing the 3rd position in the Eastern Conference. They made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals but were defeated.
In 1988, the Milwaukee Bucks relocated their home games from the Milwaukee Arena to the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
In 1989, the Milwaukee Bucks lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The team's performance led them to be eliminated at this stage of the NBA playoffs.
After the franchise's 25th anniversary in 1993, the Milwaukee Bucks revamped their logo and uniforms, changing colors to green, purple, and silver. The new logo featured a more realistic deer design, and the team adopted purple road uniforms.
In 1997, the Milwaukee Bucks made significant trades, sending Vin Baker to the Seattle SuperSonics and acquiring players like Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill. The team also revamped its roster by trading for Ervin Johnson.
In the 1998 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks traded Dirk Nowitzki, the ninth overall pick, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Robert Traylor. This trade is often considered one of the most lopsided in NBA history, as Nowitzki went on to have a highly successful career with the Mavericks.
In the 1998-99 season, the Milwaukee Bucks were defeated in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
In the 2000-01 season, the Milwaukee Bucks achieved a record of 52-30, with a win percentage of .634. They secured the 2nd position in their conference.
On June 4, 2001, significant games took place during the 2001 NBA Playoffs.
During the 2002-03 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks had a record of 42-40, finishing 4th out of 8 teams in their division. They lost in the Eastern Conference 1st Round. George Karl was the head coach with Sam Cassell being a key player.
During the 2003-04 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks had a record of 41-41, finishing 4th out of 8 teams in their division. They had a shooting percentage of 42.9% and averaged 106.5 points per game. The team lost in the Eastern Conference 1st Round.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a season in 2004-05 where they achieved a record of 30 wins and 52 losses. The team was led by players like T. Porter and M. Redd.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a record of 40-42 in the 2005-06 NBA season. They finished 5th out of 5 in their division. The team lost in the Eastern Conference 1st Round.
For the 2006–07 season, the Milwaukee Bucks changed their uniforms, introducing a white home uniform with hunter green stripes and green numbers with a red outline. The road uniforms included a hunter green primary design and a red secondary design resembling the 1968–73 uniforms.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a disappointing season in 2007-08, finishing with a record of 26-56 under the coaching of L. Krystkowiak. The team was led by M. Redd who averaged 5.8 points per game.
On June 26, 2008, the Bucks traded for Richard Jefferson from the New Jersey Nets and drafted Joe Alexander. This marked the entry of the first Taiwanese-born player, Joe Alexander, into the NBA.
During the 2009 All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, Bango, the Milwaukee Bucks mascot, suffered an injury while performing a skit. He slipped through the hoop, fell on the rim, and tore his ACL, leading to him being in a wheelchair for the rest of the 2008-09 season.
In game four of the 2009-10 first-round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks, Bango successfully performed a back-flip dunk from a 16-foot ladder, showcasing his impressive skills as a mascot.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a 46-36 record with a winning percentage of .561 during the 2009-10 NBA season. They finished 6th in the Eastern Conference and had a 3-4 record in the playoffs.
On April 6, 2010, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a spot in the playoffs with a victory over the Chicago Bulls, defying low expectations at the start of the season.
During the 2011-12 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks had a record of 31-35, finishing 3rd out of 5 in their division. The team had a challenging season with a few key players making notable contributions.
48 hours before the trade deadline on March 13, 2012, the Bucks traded Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown.
On May 21, 2012, the naming rights of the Bradley Center were sold to BMO Harris Bank, leading to the arena being renamed the 'BMO Harris Bradley Center' after approval from the Bradley family heirs.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
On April 16, 2014, a group led by Wes Edens and Marc Lasry agreed to purchase a majority interest in the Milwaukee Bucks from former owner Herb Kohl. This marked a significant change in ownership for the team.
On May 16, 2014, the sale of the Milwaukee Bucks to Wes Edens and Marc Lasry was approved by the owners of the NBA and its Board of Governors. This finalized the ownership transition for the team.
An article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel dated May 17, 2014, where the new owners of the Milwaukee Bucks express gratitude to the fans and the city.
The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Jason Kidd as head coach from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for draft picks, leading to the firing of coach Larry Drew.
The Milwaukee Bucks matched their previous season's win total just 30 games into the 2014–15 season by defeating the Atlanta Hawks.
The NBA passed a rule known as the 'Jay-Z Rule' on January 25, which limited ownership groups to no more than 25 individuals and required no ownership interest to be smaller than 1%.
The Milwaukee Bucks achieved their 30th win of the season by beating the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first NBA team to double their win total from the previous season before the All-Star Break.
The Milwaukee Bucks traded Brandon Knight to the Phoenix Suns as part of a 3-way deal, receiving Michael Carter-Williams, Miles Plumlee, and Tyler Ennis in return.
An entry detailing the history of the Milwaukee Bucks, first posted on April 30, 2015, and updated on July 20, 2021.
On June 6, 2015, the Milwaukee Bucks revealed their new home and road uniforms for the 2015–16 season. The uniforms featured a color block pattern called the 'Cream City Rainbow' and paid homage to past designs like the 'Irish Rainbow' from the 1980s.
On July 6, 2015, Bucks president Peter Feigin expressed concerns about public funding for a new arena, mentioning the possibility of the NBA buying and relocating the team if funding fell through.
The Bucks signed center Greg Monroe to a three-year, $50 million contract and re-signed Khris Middleton to a five-year, $70 million contract on July 9, 2015.
On July 15, 2015, the Wisconsin State Senate voted in favor of using public money to help finance a new arena for the Bucks, securing the team's future in Milwaukee.
As of July 16, 2015, the Milwaukee Bucks ownership group included prominent individuals such as Jamie Dinan, Wes Edens, Giacamo Falluca, Michael D. Fascitelli, and others.
An entry about the notable first achievements in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks, originally posted on June 8, 2016, and revised on July 20, 2021.
On June 18, 2016, the groundbreaking ceremony took place for the Milwaukee Bucks' new arena, marking a significant milestone in the team's future.
On September 19, 2016, Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. This marked a significant investment in the young player's future with the team.
On February 8, 2017, Khris Middleton made his return to the Bucks lineup, boosting the team's performance. However, in the same game, Jabari Parker tore his ACL for the second time in 3 seasons, leading to a significant loss for the team.
On April 8, 2017, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a spot in the playoffs by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 90-82. This achievement marked a significant milestone for the team in the 2016-17 season.
On April 10, 2017, the Milwaukee Bucks secured their third winning season since 2001 by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 89-79. This accomplishment reflected the team's improvement and competitiveness.
On May 17, 2017, the Milwaukee Bucks entered a new era.
On May 23, 2017, John Hammond resigned as the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks to join the Orlando Magic. Hammond's departure marked a change in the Bucks' front office leadership.
On January 22, 2018, the Milwaukee Bucks dismissed Jason Kidd from his position as head coach due to the team's performance. This decision marked a significant change in coaching leadership for the Bucks.
On May 17, 2018, the Milwaukee Bucks appointed Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach. Budenholzer's hiring signaled a new era for the team under his leadership.
On August 26, 2018, the Fiserv Forum, the new arena of the Milwaukee Bucks, was opened to the public. This state-of-the-art facility provided a modern home for the team and enhanced the fan experience.
On April 22, 2019, the Bucks swept the Detroit Pistons for their first playoff series win since 2001.
On May 8, 2019, the Bucks eliminated the Boston Celtics in five games to reach their first Conference Finals since 2001.
On August 26, 2020, the Bucks' players refused to play in their playoff matchup against the Orlando Magic following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the NBA Finals MVP after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to victory over the Phoenix Suns. He averaged impressive stats throughout the series, including a 50-point performance in Game 6.
Since 2018, the Milwaukee Bucks have hosted Pride Night at Fiserv Forum to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The annual event, held on January 22, 2022, marked the 5th time of honoring inclusivity and diversity.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be facing off against the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs. Keep an eye on key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo to see how they perform.
Detailed schedule of the Milwaukee Bucks' first-round playoffs series against the Indiana Pacers is provided in this article.
The Milwaukee Bucks are making a playoff return, and fans can find all the essential information about it in this article.
After the Milwaukee Bucks lost in the playoffs, the team announced the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer on May 4, 2023.
Former Toronto Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin was appointed as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on June 5, 2023.
The Milwaukee Bucks acquired seven-time all-star point guard Damian Lillard in a 3-team trade on September 27, 2023.
After the firing of Adrian Griffin, the Milwaukee Bucks named Doc Rivers as their new head coach on January 26, 2024.