Milwaukee Bucks Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the

game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests

that players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I

have decided to defy those odds. 

The Milwaukee Bucks entered the NBA in 1968. The name Bucks

was chosen because of Wisconsin’s official wild animal, the white-

tailed deer. The creation of the Bucks marked the return of the

NBA to Milwaukee after 13 years. The Atlanta Hawks once called

Milwaukee home. 

The Bucks were a quick success, winning the NBA title in 1970-

1971, defeating the Washington Bullets. They also reached the

Finals in 1974, falling to the Boston Celtics. The franchise has not

reached the Finals since but has been a consistent playoff team,

also winning 15 division titles. 

Today, I put together a Bucks Dream Team. There are some rigid

criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have

played for the Bucks for a minimum of four seasons -- no

exceptions. Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that

standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this

list. This roster is all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is

the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The

number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity

also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare

eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Bucks during a season of being a championship

contender does not get you a hall pass on this team. However,

being on the Bucks during a bad season is no deterrent to getting

a spot on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level

performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,

after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the

franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t

just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would

remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask

yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starting five

Point guard: Oscar Robertson

Only four seasons of Robertson's Hall-of-Fame career were spent

in Milwaukee, however, he helped deliver the franchise’s only

NBA championship. Robertson was acquired in a trade from the

Cincinnati Royals, who had been an underperforming team. With

the Bucks, Robertson was paired with a young Kareem Abdul-

Jabbar.

In His Four Seasons with the Bucks, Robertson was an All-Star

on two occasions. He averaged 16.3 points and 7.5 S's and 4.9

rebounds during his time with the Bucks. Robertson was

considered the Michael Jordan of his era. 

Shooting guard: Sydney Moncrief

Moncrief spent all but one season of his 11-year career with the

Bucks. On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Moncrief was an

outstanding all-around player. Even Michael Jordan hated lining up

against him. Moncrief was a well-balanced offensive player and a

menace defensively.

Moncrief was a five-time All-Star, four-time All NBA (one as a first-

teamer), two-time Defensive Player of the Year and four-time all NBA

Defensive first team. Moncrief also averaged at least 20 points for

four consecutive seasons. 

Small forward: Glenn Robinson

Robinson, who was nicknamed “Big Dog,” was known as a pure

scorer from the moment he entered the NBA. He could either beat

teams from the perimeter or put the ball on the floor and drive by

them. Robinson could also beat opponents with his back to the

basket.

Both of Robinson's All-Star appearances came with the Milwaukee

Bucks. He was also NBA All-Rookie first team in 1995. During his

career with the Bucks he averaged 21.1 points per game along

with 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals.

Power forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo is known on a first name and nickname basis with

the and also known as “The Greek Freak.” Antetokounmpo is

capable of playing all five positions which by definition regards him

as an all-around player. He has overwhelming size and athleticism.

Antetokounmpo has won the NBA MVP award in each of the last two

seasons and has been an All-Star for the last four consecutive

seasons. He is a four-time All NBA (two as a first-teamer) selection.

He was also the Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Though the

Bucks have had postseason disappointments each of the last two

seasons, he is undeniably one of the best players in the game today

and in franchise history. Antetokounmpo has a career average of

20.1 points per game and has averaged a double-double in each

of the last three seasons. 

Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Though most of his Hall of Fame career was spent with the Los

Angeles Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar had six dominant years with the

Bucks. He helped deliver the franchise their only NBA

championship. Paired with veteran Oscar Robertson, and then

young version of Jabbar helped improve the Bucks immediately

upping their win total by 29 games during his rookie season. 

Three of his six NBA MVP seasons came in a bucks uniform. During

his time in Milwaukee, Abdul-Jabaar averaged 22.1 points, 9.4

rebounds and 2.8 block shots per game. Until Jayson Tatum in

2018, Abdul-Jabbar would be the only rookie to record 10 or more

games of 20-plus points in the postseason.

Bench (alphabetical order)

Ray Allen:

Coming out of college from the University of Connecticut, Allen's

strength was his slash ability in terms of driving to the basket. Allen,

however, turned into one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in NBA

history. Though the Bucks had limited team success in his era, only

three playoff appearances in seven seasons, Allen remains one of

the best players in franchise history. As a Buck, Allen was an All-

Star on two occasions and averaged 19.1 points per game.

Vin Baker:

Baker's first four NBA seasons were spent with the Bucks. Also,

three of Baker’s four career All-Star appearances came in a

Milwaukee uniform. Baker was a solid mid-range shooter throughout

his career. In a Bucks uniform, Baker averaged 18.3 points and 9.5

rebounds per game.

Junior Brigeman:

Ulysses Bridgeman, was known as “Junior.” Though he never earned

any All Star recognition, he had success as a complimentary player

during his nine seasons throughout the late 70s and into the mid-80s

helping the Bucks reach the postseason consistently. During his

time in Milwaukee, he averaged 13.3 points per contest.

Terry Cummings:

Cummings was known as a bruiser playing power forward but he was

also a very skilled offensive player. Cummings was an outstanding

fadeaway jump shooter. Both of his All-Star seasons came as a

member of the Bucks. During his time in Milwaukee, Cummings

averaged 19.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. 

Bob Dandridge:

With his eight seasons with the Bucks, Dandridge was an NBA All

Rookie performer and helped deliver the franchise's only

championship as a complimentary player to Robertson and Abdul-

Jabbar. Three of his four All-Star appearances came in a Bucks

uniform. During his time with the Bucks, Dandridge averaged 18.6

points and 7.3 rebounds per game. 

Marques Johnson:

Johnson played seven of his 12 NBA seasons with the Bucks. He

helped them win five division titles in the 1980s. Four of his five All-

Stars came as a member of the Bucks and all three of his All NBA

team selections (one as a first team) came with the Bucks as well.

He was also NBA All-Rookie first team in 1978. During his career with

the Bucks he averaged 21.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. 

Bob Lanier:

Lanier's Hall of Fame career is mostly associated with the Detroit

Pistons but his last five seasons in the NBA with the Bucks were still

highly effective despite aging knees. Lanier helped the Bucks win

five consecutive division championships. As a Buck, he averaged 14

points, six rebounds and three assists per game.

Ricky Pierce:

Over the course of eight seasons, Pierce helped the Bucks become

a consistent playoff team. He is the franchise leader among guards

in assists. Pierce’s lone NBA All-Star appearance came with the

Bucks and he was also the two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In

a Bucks uniform, Pierce averaged 18.5 points per game. 

Paul Pressey:

Though Pressey played small forward, he often executed the ball-

handling duties, and was frequently being the Bucks team leader in

assists. Pressey was also known for his solid defense as he was a

two-time first team All-NBA defense. In a Bucks uniform, Pressey

averaged 11.9 points and 5.6 assists per game. 

Michael Redd:

Much of Redd's legacy is “What Might Have Been? Though Redd

battled numerous injuries as well as knee surgeries, he established

enough of a body of work to belong on this team. Redd's only All-

Star appearance in his career came with the Bucks. Red averaged

20.0 points per game and is among the franchise leaders in points,

rebounds and three pointers made. 

Head coach: Larry Costello

Costello led the franchise to its only NBA championship and also

guided the Bucks to 410 regular-season wins along with 37 playoff

wins. As a player, Costello brought an old school intensity that

translated similarly to his coaching. In a sense, Costello can be

considered a visionary as he drew up the Triangle Offense which

was later made famous by NBA legend Phil Jackson with the

Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. 

Team: 1970-1971

Considering the franchise’s most recent postseason failures, this

version of the Bucks still gets the nod. The Bucks won 66 regular

season games and led the league with 118.4 points per game and

with third in points allowed by opponents. Abdul Jabbar was the

regular season MVP as well as the NBA Finals MVP. The Bucks

had a dominant postseason, going 12-2.