One of the top defenders in NBA history and the first winner of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 1984. Moncrief joined an Arkansas Razorbacks team that already had talent with guys like Ron Brewer, Marvin Delph. The three formed “the triplets” which would take the Arkansas program from obscurity into one of the premier programs in the nation. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks they never made the NCAA finals but the legacy left by Moncrief, Brewer and Delph would eventually culminate in the 1994 NCAA title. After four stellar years at Arkansas Moncrief joined the NBA where he was the 5th overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Moncrief became a key bench player in his rookie year averaging 8 points and 4 rebounds a game. In his second year he became a full time starter and his production jumped to 14 points and 5 rebounds.

In 1981-82 Moncrief busted onto the NBA scene. He averaged just under 20 points per game, and made his first all-star team. This was the season where he earned the reputation as one of the games great defenders. In game 3 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers Moncrief had one of his most memorable shots. With the clock winding down he hit a running bank shot at the buzzer to win the game for the Bucks. Unfortunately for the Bucks they lost the series in six games.

Moncrief had his best season as a pro in 82-83. He averaged a career high 22.5 points per game and won the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year award. He followed that season up with 21 point 7 rebound year en route to winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award.

Teaming with cagy veterans Tiny Archibald, Junior Bridgeman, Marques Johnson, Mike Dunleavy, and Bob Lanier the Bucks made a serious push towards the NBA finals in 1984. Their only problem was the Boston Celtics who won the best of seven series in only 5 games. The Celtics would become a huge obstacle for the Bucks who defeated Milwaukee twice in the Eastern finals and prevented the Bucks from reaching the finals in the 80s.

Despite never reaching the NBA finals in the 1980s the Milwaukee Bucks posted the third best record in the decade behind the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. The Bucks won seven consecutive Central Division titles from 1980 until 1986. The Bucks also made the playoffs 12 consecutive years, which is the longest consecutive playoff streak without reaching the NBA finals.

The Bucks did try to win a title however, they paired Moncrief with stars such as Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce, Paul Pressey, and Jack Sikma but they never could get over the hump.

Moncrief played 10 seasons for the Bucks until 1989 when he took a year off. The following season he signed with the Atlanta Hawks for one season to act as their 6th man. Following the season he retired from the NBA for good.

Following his NBA career Moncrief stayed away from the NBA for nearly 16 until he was assigned a coaching position in the D-league in 2006, the following season he became the shooting coach for the Golden State Warriors.

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