What History Has In Store For The Resurgent Milwaukee Bucks
By Adam McGee
Mar 3, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Mar 3, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA;
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the leading scorer in Milwaukee Bucks and NBA history, waves to fans during game against the Utah Jazz at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Suns: 1969-70
The Phoenix Suns finished the 1968-69 season with the NBA’s worst record. In the present day, that would ensure of the highest percentage chance of gaining the first overall pick in the following year’s Draft, but back then things were different.
In the aftermath of the league’s expansion the ownership of the number one overall pick was determined by a coin flip between the worst team from each conference.
The West’s 16 win Suns lost the toss to the East’s 27 win Bucks, and the rest is history. Lew Alcindor (later to be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) became a Buck and set the table for a historical turnaround in Milwaukee.
On the other hand, Phoenix had to move on without him, and they did so in style bouncing back with a 39 win season, and the fourth spot in the West. They would fall in the Playoffs to eventual finalist the Los Angeles Lakers.
How did they fare after that? Not very well, the Suns would fail to make the Playoffs for the next six seasons.
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