Milwaukee Bucks · Franchise era 2 of 6
The overlooked contender: the Milwaukee Bucks story
The story in one sentence
The Bucks won seven straight division titles behind elite defense and balanced scoring, but the East's superteams blocked a Finals trip.
Marques, Moncrief and annual excellence
Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson and Bob Lanier gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for a decade in the middle.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1975–76
What came before
Milwaukee paired a generational young center with Robertson and won the 1971 championship in only its third season.
- 11TradeJune 16, 1975
June 16, 1975
The trade that brought Kareem home to Los Angeles
Abdul-Jabbar had requested a move to New York or Los Angeles. The Lakers exchanged four substantial rotation pieces for the league's premier center.
To LAL
To MILDraftPICKround asset+2 assetsKareem to the LakersLAL receives Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt WesleyMIL receives Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Rights: Dave Meyers + 2 more7 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 1984
Eastern Conference Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics
1986
Eastern Conference Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics
1987
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics
After 1986–87
What came next
Milwaukee cycled from veteran competitiveness into a talented young frontcourt without finding a stable contender.
The core