The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The current franchise owner is U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.  The Milwaukee Bucks were formed in January 1968 when the NBA awarded a franchise to Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services, Inc. (Milwaukee Pro), a group headed by Wesley Pavalon and Marvin Fishman. In October, the Bucks played their first NBA regular season game against the Chicago Bulls before a Milwaukee Arena crowd of 8,467. As is typical with expansion teams, the Bucks' first season, 1968-69, was a struggle. Their first victory came in their 6th game as the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 134–118; they would win only 26 more games in their first year. The Bucks' record that year earned them a coin flip against their expansion brethren, the Phoenix Suns, to see who would get the first pick in the upcoming draft. It was a foregone conclusion that the first pick in the draft would be Lew Alcindor (who became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971) of UCLA. The Bucks won the coin flip, but had to win a bidding war with the upstart American Basketball Association to secure him.

While it was expected that Alcindor would make the Bucks respectable almost overnight, no one expected what happened in 1969-70. They finished with a 56-26 record--a nearly exact reversal of the previous record. This was good enough for the second-best record in the league, behind the New York Knicks. The 29-game improvement was by far the best in league history--a record which would stand for 10 years until the Boston Celtics jumped from 29 wins in 1978-79 to 61 in 1979-80. They defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games in the Eastern semifinals, only to be dispatched in five by the Knicks in the Eastern finals. Alcindor was a runaway selection for NBA Rookie of the Year.

The following season, the Bucks got an unexpected gift when they acquired Oscar Robertson, known as "the Big O," in a trade with the Cincinnati Royals. Subsequently, in only their third season the Bucks finished 66-16—the second-most wins in NBA history at the time, and still the most in franchise history. During the regular season, the Bucks recorded a then-NBA record 20 game win streak. They then steamrolled through the playoffs with a dominating 12-2 record, winning the NBA Championship on April 30, 1971 by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets in four games. By winning the title in only their third season, the Bucks became the second-fastest team in NBA history to win the title, and the second-most successful expansion team in NBA history. The Minneapolis Lakers are technically the fastest to win a title by virtue of winning the Basketball Association of America title in 1948-49. The Lakers joined the BAA--the direct linear ancestor of the NBA--from the old National Basketball League (United States) that year, and are regarded as an expansion team since the NBA does not recognize NBL records. However, the Bucks are usually regarded as the fastest team to win an NBA title, since the 1948-49 Lakers (the 1947-48 NBL champs) were not an expansion team in any sense of the term.

The Bucks remained a powerhouse for the first half of the 1970s. In 1972, the Bucks recorded their third consecutive 60-win season, the first NBA team to do so. One year later, the Bucks were back in the 1974 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. In Game 6 of the series, Jabbar made a patented "sky hook" shot to end a classic double-overtime victory for the Bucks. The Bucks lost Game 7 and the series to the Celtics. On June 16, 1975, the Bucks pulled a mega-trade by sending Jabbar to the Lakers for Elmore Smith, Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters and David Meyers. Jim Fitzgerald, the Bucks largest stockholder, opposed the trade and wanted to sell his stock. Although Fitzgerald was the largest stockholder, he didn't own enough stock to control the team. The trade triggered a series of events that led to a change in the team's ownership.

After the mega-deal, the Bucks had several seasons in transition, but most of these players would bear fruit. After being sold to cable television executive Jim Fitzgerald and several partners in 1976, the Bucks would enter into another era of greatness. It began with Don Nelson who became head coach in November 1976 after Larry Costello abruptly resigned. In the 1977 draft, the Bucks had three first round picks and drafted Kent Benson, Marques Johnson and Ernie Grunfeld. Johnson would become a staple in the Bucks for years to come. Rookie Sidney Moncrief made his debut in 1979. On Oct 18, 1977 Kareem Abdul Jabbar punched Kent Benson during a game and broke his hand. Benson had been aggressive under the boards and Jabbar, a martial arts black belt, snapped. Jabbar missed the next 20 games. Benson never played as aggressively again. Jabbar was fined $5000 by the NBA.

In February 1980, the Bucks traded Kent Benson to Detroit for veteran center Bob Lanier to fill in the hole left by the departure of Jabbar. They then won the Midwest Division title in 1980. After losing to Seattle in the semi-finals, the Bucks moved to the Eastern Conference's Central Division. There, they would win 6 straight division titles and have .500 seasons for the next 11 years. Within those years, the Bucks became perennial Eastern Conference contenders, primarily due to the strong play of Moncrief, Paul Pressey, Craig Hodges and the arrival of Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce and Jack Sikma from trades with the Los Angeles Clippers and Seattle respectively. Other notable players who played for the Bucks in this era included Larry Krystkowiak, Randy Breuer and Paul Mokeski.

In 1985, Fitzgerald and his partners decided to sell the Bucks. He was having health problems and some of his investors wanted to get out. The Bucks were playing in the smallest arena in the NBA and the city didn't want to build a new one. Milwaukee businessman (and now U.S. Senator) Herb Kohl bought the Bucks after fears that out-of-town investors could buy the team and move it out of Milwaukee. Before the transaction was complete, Jane and Lloyd Pettit of Milwaukee announced they were donating a new arena called Bradley Center. In 2003, after considering selling the team, Kohl announced that he had decided against selling the Bucks to Michael Jordan and would "continue to own them, improve them and commit them to remaining in Wisconsin."

For most of the 1990s, the Bucks franchise was mired in mediocrity under coaches Frank Hamblem, Mike Dunleavy, and Chris Ford. From 1991 through 1998, the Bucks suffered seven straight seasons of losing records. During this period, the Bucks drafted Glenn Robinson with the first overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft and in 1996 acquired rookie Ray Allen in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both players would play prominent roles in the Bucks resurgence in the late 1990s.

To honor their 25th Anniversary in 1993, the Bucks changed their uniforms, replacing the cartoonish deer in favor of a more regal one. Also, red was replaced by purple.  In 1998 the Bucks hired veteran coach George Karl. Under Karl's leadership and with the steady addition of talent such as Tim Thomas and Sam Cassell the Bucks grew to become an elite team in the Eastern Conference. In 2001 the Bucks won 52 games and the Central Division title. In the post-season the Bucks reached the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals, which they lost in seven games to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Behind the strong encouragement of George Karl, the Bucks acquired Anthony Mason at the beginning of the 2001-2002 season. On paper, this made the Bucks the team to beat in the Eastern Conference for the 2001-02 season. On the court and off, however, team chemistry was destroyed by the presence of Mason. The Bucks, who at the season's midway point were the number four seed in the Eastern Conference, began an unthinkable free-fall, which culminated with a loss to the Detroit Pistons on the final night of the season, eliminating them from NBA playoff contention. This fallout caused tension between the team's three stars and coach, resulting in the eventual trades of Glenn Robinson to Atlanta (for Toni Kukoc and a first-round draft pick that they used to select T. J. Ford).

In the midst of the 2002-03 season, the Bucks traded their superstar Ray Allen and backup Ronald "Flip" Murray to the Seattle SuperSonics for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. The trade allowed for increased playing time for Michael Redd and with Gary Payton in the backcourt, the Bucks finished the season with a 42–40 record. The Bucks made the playoffs; however, the Bucks lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets in six games. Team leaders Sam Cassell and center Ervin Johnson were traded to Minnesota (for Joe Smith). Payton would leave via free agency following the season. Coach George Karl’s coaching tenure with the Bucks also ended after the season.

The Bucks had a promising 2003-04 season with the strong play of rookie point guard T. J. Ford and new coach Terry Porter, until Ford suffered a career-threatening spinal cord contusion, thus sitting out the final 26 games of the season. The Bucks did qualify for the playoffs; however they were defeated by the eventual champion Pistons in the first round.

With T. J. Ford missing the entire 2004-05 season because of his spinal cord contusion, the Bucks had a disappointing regular season, ending with a 30–52 record. Strong play by young stars Mo Williams and Michael Redd did provide some encouragement. Coach Terry Porter was fired at the end of the season. Due to their poor record, the Bucks were placed in the NBA Draft Lottery. Despite only having a 6% chance for the first selection in the lottery, the Bucks won the first pick for the 2005 NBA Draft, which was used to select Andrew Bogut of Australia and the University of Utah. This luck raised expectations for the coming season, as the team anticipated the return of T. J. Ford along with the addition of Bogut and former All-Star center Jamaal Magloire who was acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets for Desmond Mason.

The Bucks showed improvement in the 2005-06 season under new head coach Terry Stotts. On April 1, 2006, the Bucks set a new NBA record for the fewest team turnovers in one game with just two turnovers in a 96–89 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Earlier the same week, on March 28, they set a new NBA record with 11 3-pointers in a quarter, another new NBA record with 14 3-pointers in a half, and a team record with 18 3-pointers in a 132–110 shootout victory over the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks finished the 2006 regular season with a loss to the Wizards, giving them a 40–42 record and dropping them to the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks lost to the Detroit Pistons, the defending Eastern Conference Champions, in the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, with a final series tally of 4–1. Milwaukee had their only win in the playoff series when they beat Detroit 124–104 on April 29, 2006.

After the 2005-06 season, the Bucks made substantial changes to their roster, trading several of their key players. The Bucks traded starting point guard T. J. Ford to the Raptors for forward Charlie Villanueva, and traded starting center Jamaal Magloire to Portland for Steve Blake, Brian Skinner, and Ha Seung-Jin. On August 10, 2006, the Bucks traded Joe Smith to the Denver Nuggets for Ruben Patterson. During the season, Steve Blake was traded to the Denver Nuggets for point guard Earl Boykins, Julius Hodge, and cash considerations. In Boykins' Milwaukee Bucks debut, he contributed 11 points and 11 assists. Hodge was later waived by the Bucks.

On June 28, 2006, the Bucks revealed a new color scheme, as well as an updated logo. The new colors revealed were dark red and forest green, returning the team to its original color scheme, although they retained silver from the previous color scheme. Its new uniform identity was also revealed on the last week of September 2006, with green again becoming the primary road jersey. Although no alternate road jersey currently exists, it is believed that such an outfit (likely in red) will be unveiled for the 2008-09 season.

The beginning of the 2006-07 season gave Bucks' fans high hopes. The Bucks had a fantastic December—going 11–6, but soon after, starters Redd, Villianueva and Mo Williams suffered key injuries. For much of January, this left Andrew Bogut as the only remaining starting player from the anticipated lineup (starter Bobby Simmons had been sidelined for the entire season with a heel injury). The Bucks’ record suffered as a result of these injuries, with the team recording only two wins in the month of January. In February, the Bucks lost a crucial game to the Boston Celtics who were riding a franchise-record 18-game losing streak. The Bucks' struggles continued with more injuries until they fired head coach Terry Stotts after losing their 41st game of the season. He was then replaced with interim coach Larry Krystkowiak, who later became the head coach of the team. Late in the season, Bogut was also injured, leaving the Bucks with four out of the five anticipated starters for the season, Bogut, Villanueva, Simmons, and Redd, all of whom on the injured list during the final weeks of the season. The Bucks finished with a 28-54 record, third-worst in the NBA.

On June 28, 2007, the Bucks drafted Yi Jianlian from the People's Republic of China with the No. 6 pick of the draft. Yi is widely regarded as the best Chinese prospect to come out of China since Yao Ming. Although Yi is considered by many as a strong offensive player, his selection by the Bucks brought many concerns, leading some commentators to consider Yi to be a high risk choice. Most notably, prior to the draft, Yi’s agent, Dan Fegan, had stated that Yi did not want to play for the Bucks, and refused to let them watch Yi train. Fegan had stated that Milwaukee did not have a sufficient population of Asians, and Milwaukee would not be a good fit for Yi. After being drafted by the Bucks, Yi refused to visit Milwaukee, and his agent has openly tried to convince the Bucks to trade Yi to another team by threatening that Yi would return to China rather than play for the Bucks. In addition, questions exist surrounding Yi’s real age (ranging between 19 to 22) and his ability to acclimate to the physical game in the NBA. Yi Jianlian signed a deal with the Bucks on August 29, 2007, in Hong Kong. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Yi made his Bucks pre-season debut against Chicago, scoring three points and fouling out.

In March of 2008, the Bucks' fans selected the franchise's 40th Anniversary Team, which included notable players like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Ray Allen, Sidney Moncrief, and Michael Redd to name a few.

On March 20, 2008, the Bucks announced that they would not renew general manager Larry Harris's contract, which was to expire June 30, 2008. On April 11, 2008, the Bucks hired John Hammond, formerly the Vice President of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, as their new GM, giving the Milwaukee team a fresh director recently associated with success.

On April 17, 2008, the Bucks announced that Larry Krystkowiak was relieved of his duties as head coach. On April 21, 2008, the Bucks announced the hiring of coach Scott Skiles, formerly of the Chicago Bulls.

On June 26, 2008, the Bucks acquired forward Richard Jefferson from the New Jersey Nets in a major trade for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.

Later that day, the Bucks selected West Virginia's Joe Alexander with the 8th pick of the NBA draft. When Joe plays in his first game, he will be the first Taiwanese-born player in the NBA.  On July 17, 2008, the Bucks signed guard Tyronn Lue and forward Malik Allen.

First Draft Choice In the 1968 Draft, the Bucks selected Charlie Paulk of Northeastern University in the first round (seventh overall). First Game On October 16, 1968, the Bucks hosted the Chicago Bulls, dropping an 89-84 decision in front of a Milwaukee Arena crowd of 8,467. Starting for the Bucks were Guy Rodgers, Jon McGlocklin, Fred Hetzel, Len Chappell and Wayne Embry. McGlocklin scored the first points in team history, draining a jump shot just 13 seconds in to the contest. Rodgers led the Bucks with 16 points.

First Win After dropping their first five games of the inaugural season, the Bucks claimed victory on October 31, 1968, a 134-118 decision over the Detroit Pistons at the Arena. Wayne Embry led the Bucks in scoring with 30 points, and became the first player in Bucks history to score 30-plus in a single game.

First NBA Championship No expansion team in pro sports history earned a championship quicker than the Bucks, who captured the 1971 NBA title in just their third season of existence. The 1970-71 Bucks posted a 66-16 regular-season mark under Coach Larry Costello. In the postseason, they beat San Francisco (4-1) and the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) before sweeping Baltimore in four straight for the title.

First Bradley Center Game In front of a sellout crowd of 18,649 on November 5, 1988, the Bucks dropped a 107-94 decision to the Atlanta Hawks. Terry Cummings led the Bucks with 19 points.

First Bradley Center Win In their second home game in their new home, on November 9, 1988, the Bucks topped Philadelphia 114-103 behind 31 points from Terry Cummings.

Getting Inside

There isn’t much the NBA can do to grab a sports fan’s attention away from the NFL in October. But the wily schedule-maker has come up with at least one thing.

Grabbing from its limited number of wild cards, the NBA has scheduled new Bucks coach Scott Skiles to debut Oct. 28—five days before a Packers up-close-and-personal with Vince Young will steal back the headlines—against the team that fired him last December, sending Milwaukee to Chicago as one of three intriguing Opening Night matchups.

Just 10 months after being terminated by the free-falling team, Skiles will get a chance to add to the Bulls’ woes immediately in 2008-09. And he’ll have his immediate successor in Chicago—then-interim coach Jim Boylan—by his side as his Bucks assistant.

Opening on the road is nothing new to the Bucks. In fact, they seem to like it.

This will be the 24th consecutive year in which they will open away from home. Their record in the past 23 openers? An impressive 14-9.

Then again, they’ve never opened at Chicago. Imagine that.

Maybe the NBA has been saving it for a special occasion.

Notes, Quotes

• The roster overhaul continues. The Bucks dealt guard Mo Williams to Cleveland and Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City as part of a complicated, three-team deal that netted them guard Luke Ridnour and swingman Adrian Griffin from Oklahoma City and guard Damon Jones from Cleveland.

While the loss of Williams surely stings, Ridnour is a pure point guard, Jones can shoot and while the versatile Griffin isn’t as talented as the explosive Mason, he’s often just as productive.

“Our challenge from day one has been to shape our roster in a way that our fans will see a team that is competitive, that plays hard every night and has a chance to win,” said GM John Hammond. “We feel this trade continues to move us toward that goal for this season and beyond.”

• The Opening Night reunion has a reverse angle as well. Longtime Bucks coach Del Harris now serves as Vinny Del Negro’s assistant in Chicago.

• The Bucks will play 20 of their first 33 games on the road.

• The Bucks haven’t started a season as early as Oct. 28 since opening on Oct. 25, 1985.

• The Bucks catch a break in that they play only once at Boston. They will visit every other Eastern Conference team other than the Wizards twice apiece.

• Two Eastern teams will be making only one trip to Milwaukee: Miami and Philadelphia.

• Longtime Nets star F Richard Jefferson won’t see his old mates until they visit Milwaukee on Jan. 9. His homecoming at the Meadowlands will be Feb. 3.

• Among the Bucks’ 15 games at Western Conference sites, only four will start as late as 9 p.m. Central. The opponents will be the Warriors, Kings, Clippers and Trail Blazers.

Quote To Note:   “I called up Scott, and we both had a chuckle.”—GM John Hammond, on how he reacted when told the Bucks would be opening at Chicago, former employer of new Bucks coach Scott Skiles.

Roster Report

Draft Picks: 

Joe Alexander, F, 6-8, West Virginia—He was largely unknown to the general public until piling up 22 points and 11 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament upset of Duke last March. Alexander also proved to be surprisingly athletic. His three-quarter court sprint time of 2.99 seconds was second-fastest at the Orlando pre-draft camp.

Luc Mbah a Moute, F, 6-8, UCLA—This undersized power forward did much of the dirty work while UCLA reached the Final Four for the past three seasons. The Cameroon native averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds last year as a junior.

Biggest Needs:   Looking for quality depth with playoff experience, the Bucks checked off the last remaining thing on their “To Do” list this summer by signing Tyronn Lue and Malik Allen. They added veteran backup center Francisco Elson as well.

Free Agent Focus:   The Bucks have no key free agents.

Player Notes: 

• C Andrew Bogut’s absence in an Olympic tune-up game can be pretty easily explained. The 7-foot Australian was held out as a precautionary move because of a sore right ankle.

• It’s clear the Bucks aren’t 100 percent sold on C Dan Gadzuric, their former first-round pick, as their backup center. The team signed center Francisco Elson, who played last season for the Spurs and SuperSonics. Gadzuric knows Elson quite well. Not only did both play collegiate basketball in the Pacific-10 Conference, but both were born in the Netherlands.