| Milwaukee Bucks HISTORY
Quick facts:
Founded: 1968
Arena: Bradley Center
Division Championships: 16
Midwest Division 6 (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980)
Centeral Division 13 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2001, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Conference Championships 3 (1971, 1974, 2021)
NBA Titles: 2(1971, 2021)
Playoffs: 28
Best Season: 1970-71 (66-16)
Worst Season: 1993-94 (20-62)
Mascot: Bango
Early Success:
The Bucks seen unprecedented success as a new franchise. Though the did miss the playoffs their first year, they were awarded the top pick in the NBA draft and selected UCLA big man Lew Alcindor. Alcindor immediately changed their fortunes and the team won 56 games the next season and made the playoffs. In their third year they won a franchise record 66 games and the franchises only NBA title.
The title in their third year is the quickest for any expansion team in NBA history. The Warriors, Bullets,and Lakers all won titles in their first year in the NBA, but the Warriors won their first title the first year of the NBA, the Bullets joined from the ABL and won it in the 2nd year of the NBA, and the Lakers the defending NBL champion where also an established team. The Bucks were the only team to win it in such a short time period after being founded.
Winningest inthe 1980s:
The 1980s are defined by the Lakers and Celtics, but the Bucks were also one of the most successful franchises of the era. The Bucks won 56 games from 1980 until 1990, coming in third behind the Lakers, Celtics and Sixers. The Bucks, however, are the only one of the top 5, Phoenix is the other franchise, not to make the NBA finals and they and the Suns are the only top winning teams not to win an NBA title in the 1980s.
Herb Kohl:
Herb Kohl purchased the Bucksfrom Jim Fitzgerald in 1985 for $18 million so that the team would not be sold and moved to another city. In 2003 he had an offer to buy the team from Michael Jordan, but decided to keep the team. Jordan would eventually buy the Charlotte Bobcats.
In 1988 Kohl would run for and be elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat. Kohl thus far is the only owner of an NBA team to also be a Senator. Kohl won 4 consecutive terms to the Senate, winning in 1988, 1994, 2000, and 2006. He did not run for re-election in 2012 stating he had been in the office too long.
Kohl also owned Kohl's department stores.
In 2014 Kohl would sell the Bucks to New York based billionaires Wes Edens and Marc Lasry for $550 million dollars. Lasry and Edens had to agree to keep the team in Milwaukee as part of the sell.
In 2023 Kohl would pass away at the age of 88.
1987 McDonald's Open:
This was the first edition of the McDonald's Championship series and was the first time an NBA team had entered any international competition. Historically, the NBA barred its teams from playing in and again non-NBA games. But as Cold War tensions between the USA and the USSR began to ease, both governments sought ways to bring their peoples together, so the NBA allowed the Bucks to play in this competition.
The Open was held between October 23-25, 1987, at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks played host to Tracer Milano and the Soviet Union national basketball team. The competition was a round robin style event.
The first game on October 23rd saw the Bucks host Tracer Milano. Milano was led by former MVP Bob McAdoo, and future coach Mike D'Antoni, Former NBA player Rickey Brown was also on the roster. The Bucks won the game easily 123-111.
The next day the Soviet Union played Milano and pounded them 135-108. The USSR team had future NBA players Aleksandr Volkov, and Sarunas Marciulionis on its roster. The Soviet's victory set up a matchup with the Bucks on October 25th.
The Bucks cruised to the championship win 127-100. The game was never close as the Bucks opened up a 20 point lead in the 2nd quarter and never looked back.
Bucks center Terry Cummings was named series MVP
This series set up more international games for NBA teams, as the next season the Celtics won the McDonalds open.
First Round Struggles:
Since 1987 the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled in the playoffs - and in general. They have made the playoffs 21 times in that time frame, but have only won a first round playoff series 5 times. When they have gotten out of the first round they have been successful making the Eastern finals 3 times and the NBA finals once with a title, but its just getting out of the first round that has been their problem.
East and West:
The Milwaukee Bucks are the only NBA team to win an NBA championship as a member of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Bucks won their first NBA championship in 1971 as a member of the Western Conference, in 1980 they switched to the Eastern Conference and won a championship in 2021.
Before 1970 the NBA had divisions and there was an Eastern and Western Division, but the set up was much different and teams did not count division championships, this is why the Warriors, Sixers and Lakers are not considered to have also doing this.
The Bucks are also one of four teams to make both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals joining the Bulls, Spurs, and Rockets.
The 10 best old school NBA logos
There have been hundreds of team logo's in the history of the NBA. Some have been fantastic, some have been okay, and others have been bad. But which ones truly standout as the best of the best?
To find out what NBA logos are the best, we have to find out what makes a logo good to begin with. For the NBA, a logo is going to need to be basketball related. it also has to be unique, and capture the essence of the city it is to represent.
Complete Article |
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Bucks win first title in 50 years; a brief history of the Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks closed out the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA title in 50 years. The title was a long time coming for a franchise who has quietly been one of the better franchises in the NBA, but one who has just not been able to get over the hump and win big games.
The Bucks history started out probably better than any expansion team in sports history. Just 3 years after being introduced to the league the Bucks were hoisting their first NBA title banner. Part of that was due to them hitting pay dirt following their first season.
Like all expansion teams, the Bucks struggled their first season in the NBA going just 27-55. The 27-55 mark is their 4th worst in franchise history. But it allowed them to have a coin flip with the Phoenix Suns for the top pick in the draft, which they won. They were able to take UCLA center Lew Alcindor first overall.
Complete Article |
Bucks 71-72 champinship team
Milwaukee took the 1970-71 NBA championship by playing phenomenal basketball. It all started when the Bucks made an off season move to trade Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk to the Cincinnati Royals in return for guard Oscar "The Big O" Robertson.
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Bradley Center
Milwaukee Bucks NBA champions
Lucius Allen, Kareem and Bobby Dandridge in the early 70s
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posts up.
Kareem first wearing his iconic googles.
The 2001-2002 Bucks, featuring coach George Karl, Ray Allen, Earving Johnson, Anthony Mason, Glenn Robinson and Tim Thomas
Giannis Antetokounmpo has given the Bucks new life.
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NBA History
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