Have the Bucks Ever Won an NBA Championship?

The Milwaukee Bucks have never won an NBA Championship.

Introduction

The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and plays its home games at the Fiserv Forum. The Bucks compete in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks were established in 1968 as an expansion team, and they have won one NBA Championship, in 1971. They have also appeared in two NBA Finals, in 1974 and 2019. In 2019, they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

The Bucks currently have the best record in the NBA, and they are led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks’ History

The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and has played its home games at the Fiserv Forum since 2018.

1970s: The Early Years

In 1968, the Bucks entered the NBA as an expansion team, alongside the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks were founded by Wisconsin entertainment magnate Herb Kohl, and their cost of entry into the league was just $650,000 (roughly $4.5 million in today’s dollars). The Suns paid a then-record $2 million to enter the league.

The Bucks put together a solid first season, finishing with a 34-48 record. They made the playoffs in their second season but lost in the first round. In 1970-71, they drafted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) with the No. 1 pick. Jabbar would go on to have one of the greatest careers in NBA history, but he only played six seasons for the Bucks before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bucks had some success in the early 1970s but never made it past the second round of the playoffs. In 1974-75, they drafted future Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief with the No. 5 pick. Moncrief would go on to be one of the best defensive players of his generation and was named to five All-Star teams during his 10 seasons with Milwaukee.

1980s: The Rise to Prominence

In the 1980s, the Bucks enjoyed a level of success they had not seen since their early years in Milwaukee. Led by superstar players like Sidney Moncrief and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the team made the playoffs in seven straight seasons from 1980 to 1986. This stretch included five trips to the Conference Finals, and in 1983-84, the Bucks made it all the way to the NBA Finals. However, they were unable to win a championship, losing to the Celtics in six games.

Despite this setback, the Bucks remained a force in the league throughout the decade. In 1986-87, they won a then-franchise record 59 games and made it back to the Conference Finals. The following year, they won 57 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs. In 1988-89, they won 54 games and made it to the Conference Semifinals. The team continued to be one of the best in the league throughout the early 1990s, making it back to Conference Finals in 1990-91 and 1991-92. However, they were once again unable to win an NBA Championship.

1990s: The Decline

The Bucks struggled in the 1990s, with several coaching changes and player personnel changes. The team failed to make the playoffs in 1994, 1995, and 1996. They returned to the playoffs in 1997 after acquiring Ray Allen from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but were eventually swept by the Miami Heat in the first round.

In 1999, George Karl replaced Morris as head coach, and led the team to a 26-56 record. After missing the playoffs for a second straight year, Karl was fired as head coach and was replaced by Detroit Pistons assistant Rick Carlisle. Under Carlisle, the Bucks again missed the playoffs; they finished with a 30-52 record in 2000–01.

2000s: The Return to Relevance

In the 2000s, the Bucks returned to being a relevant force in the NBA. After a disappointing 1999-00 campaign that saw the team miss the playoffs, the Bucks acquired Ray Allen from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade. The move immediately paid dividends as Allen, along with fellow youngster Glenn Robinson, led the team to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons with the club.

The Bucks’ Championships

The Bucks have only one NBA championship win under their belt. This was back in 1971 when they defeated the Baltimore Bullets. The team has been to the Finals two other times but lost, in 1974 and 2019.

1971: The First Championship

The 1971 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1970–71 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Eastern Conference and defending champions Baltimore Bullets 4–0. This was the first time an NBA team had swept an opponent in a best-of-seven series, a feat which would not be matched until 1976, when the Golden State Warriors swept the Washington Bullets. The Bucks were led by Finals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Coach Hank Iba.

1974: The Second Championship

In the 1973-74 season, the Bucks posted a 58-24 record and swept the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Finals to win their second NBA Championship. In the series, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 27.0 points per game and 17.5 rebounds per game while also adding five assists per game. He was named the Finals MVP for the second time in his career.

2019: The Third Championship?

In 2019, the Bucks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Toronto Raptors.

Conclusion

The Bucks have never won an NBA Championship.