Milwaukee Bucks: 20 Greatest Individual Performances In Franchise History

Which performances are worthy of being recognized as the top 20 individual showings in Milwaukee Bucks history?

Jan 22, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard

(7) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 104-101. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Basketball is a team sport, and as a result the greatest moments in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks, or indeed any team, often come behind outstanding team performances where an entire roster pulls together to achieve their common goal.

Take the Bucks championship success in 1971 as the perfect example, it was a team filled with great individuals, yet there success came as a unit. Milwaukee didn’t just lean on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Oscar Robertson, as Bob Dandridge and Jon McGlocklin were equally capable of stepping up to help the team win.

That doesn’t mean that the great individual showings should be ignored or forgotten though.

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Whether they came in games of vital importance that resulted in big wins, or more often than not, otherwise completely forgettable games a couple of weeks into the season, the Bucks have had plenty of individual showings that are deserving of acknowledgement.

Which are the greatest?

We’ve compiled a list of our top 20 to help jog your memory. If you disagree, or want to share your own thoughts or memories with us, be sure to do so in the comments below!

Now, let’s get down to it.

Next: 20. Alvin Robertson

20. Alvin Robertson – vs. Utah Jazz, November 19, 1990

For a player who made more than his fair share of unsavory life choices both during and after his playing career, it’s difficult to question Alvin Robertson’s command of the game on the floor. Robertson stands in unique company as only one of four players to ever record a quadruple-double in the Association, but it was his ability to steal the ball that really made him different.

Robertson is the NBA’s all-time leader in terms of steals per game with 2.71 per contest (don’t forget steals weren’t recorded before 1985-86), and he had many games that showcased those abilities during his time in Milwaukee.

Perhaps, the most notable of which came during an early season clash with Karl Malone and John Stockton‘s Utah Jazz in the 1990-91 season. Del Harris’ team had gotten off to a solid 6-3 start to the campaign as the Jazz rolled into Milwaukee.

The Bucks clinched a convincing 10 point win, behind a performance that saw them force Utah into 29 steals as opposed to only 11 of their own. The driving force in that was Robertson, who along with his 16 points and nine assists, recorded the only 10 steal game in franchise history.

It may have just been a random Monday in November, but what Robertson did on that night has yet to be repeated by a Buck in the time since.

Next: 19. Larry Sanders

19. Larry Sanders – @ Minnesota Timberwolves, November 30, 2012

From one troubled former Buck with a defensive gift to another. Thankfully Larry Sanders doesn’t have the troubles with the law that Alvin Robertson has, but it’s unfortunate that Sanders has had to battle with other demons that rendered basketball into insignificance in his own life.

Sanders retired last season at the age of 27 following on from multiple suspensions for violations of the league’s drug policy, and after receiving treatment for mood and anxiety disorders at a Wisconsin Hospital.

It was a sad and premature end to a career that once promised so much, but that doesn’t mean that Sanders didn’t have his moments with Milwaukee. Sanders could put the ball in the basket, but really it was dominant rebounding and show-stopping shot blocks that had Bucks fans excited from the moment he arrived.

Sanders displayed arguably his very best from his time with the Bucks coming off the bench in a game which actually turned out to be an otherwise mundane loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in November 2012.

Sanders played a total of 32 minutes backing up Samuel Dalembert, and managed to put up a unique triple-double (and the most recent before Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s streak ending showing against Golden State) in that time. The former VCU Ram put up 10 points and 12 rebounds, but also became the only player in the era of recorded blocks to achieve 10 rejections in a single game for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now, it just remains as a sad reminder of what could have been.

Next: 18. John Henson

18. John Henson – @ Orlando Magic, April 10, 2013

To this day there are major pockets of the Bucks fanbase who call for versatile, young big man John Henson to be given greater opportunities to show what he can do, and it’s games like this one that can often be accredited as the reason why that is.

Henson is a long and athletic defender, but it’s underrating him by simply categorizing his length in that manner. The former UNC Tar Heel is more than capable of being a dominant figure on both ends of the court, it’s just a matter of him being consistent enough to impose his will.

Henson gave a spectacular demonstration of what could still be to come from him towards the end of his rookie season, in the sort of performance that perhaps prompted the team to abandon their eighth seeded squad in favor of rebuilding.

The Bucks would eventually fall to the Magic in overtime in a game that they could have done with winning as they jostled for playoff position, but it was the play of Henson that was really the games most significant storyline.

The North Carolina native posted 17 points, 25 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists during his time on the court as Henson made a statement performance. If only the Bucks could get some more of that this season.

Next: 17. Jared Dudley

17. Jared Dudley – @ Atlanta Hawks, December 26, 2014

The perfect night is a rare feat in the NBA, even for a great shooter like Jared Dudley, the best of nights will almost always include a few misses. Dudley is the ideal NBA role player, if not a star, but that doesn’t mean that he was unable to grab the limelight from time to time while playing for the Bucks.

Dudley had many important contributions on the court last season, on top of his veteran influence off of it, but picking out the best of the bunch was not a difficult feat.

As the Atlanta Hawks were possibly still trying to digest their Christmas dinners, Jared Dudley showed no sympathy. Every time the ball landed in his hands it was as if he had been given a holiday gift, as the veteran found himself in the zone, likely having the best shooting night of his entire basketball life.

The Hawks had been rolling to start the season, and entered this particular game with Milwaukee with a record of 21-7. Dudley’s 24 minute cameo off the bench would ensure that they weren’t going to have a successful night against the Bucks.

In his time on the floor, Dudley went 10-10 from the field, including 4-4 from three-point range, racking up 24 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists. Milwaukee blew Atlanta out by 30 points in their own building, which was no mean feat considering the Bucks would follow the display up with a run of 19 straight wins.

Next: 16. Zaza Pachulia

16. Zaza Pachulia – @ Brooklyn Nets, March 20, 2015

It’s always a fun night when you get to see NBA history being made, and it’s even better when it’s a Milwaukee Bucks player who is etching his name into the history books.

Whenever you go to look up the greatest offensive rebounding performances to date in NBA history, you’ll be greeted by three names. Dennis Rodman and Charles Oakley‘s presence likely won’t surprise anybody as both men were tenacious rebounders, but the third man in their company is none other than Georgian journeyman Zaza Pachulia.

Pachulia is and always will be a little bit of a cult figure among Bucks fans (particularly for this writer), and as time goes on a big part of his legacy will likely become this remarkable performance in an incredible game against the Nets in the Barclays Center.

The Bucks would eventually fall by two points in a triple-overtime classic, but they likely would have lost much earlier if not for a herculean effort from their center. Pachulia posted 22 points, 21 rebounds and seven assists, highlighting his full range of skill.

Incredibly, 18 of Pachulia’s 21 rebounds came on the offensive glass on the night, an example of the endless energy and effort that many forget about when they think of Pachulia.

Next: 15. Sam Cassell

15. Sam Cassell, vs. Chicago Bulls, March 3, 2001

Point guard play has been essential to many of Milwaukee’s greatest teams, and Sam Cassell provided the Bucks with many fine performances dependant on his play during his time with the franchise. In spite of that, Cassell was never really a show-stopping point guard likely to take over a game.

Cassell excelled in making life easier for all of those around him, but that didn’t mean he was unable to step up and be an offensive spearhead from time to time.

Although, they were far from the strongest team that the Chicago Bulls put on an NBA floor, this game, like every other against their greatest rival, represented a game that the Milwaukee Bucks were particularly hungry to win.

The game was an exceptionally close encounter that would end up being decided in double overtime, but the fact that the Bucks would come out victorious can only be accredited to a colossal night from Milwaukee’s “big three”. Ray Allen was good, Glenn Robinson was better, but it was Cassell’s career night that sealed the win.

Cassell finished the game with 40 points and 10 assists off the back of an exceptional 18-24 shooting effort, driving his team to victory.

Next: 14. Vin Baker

14. Vin Baker – vs. Charlotte Hornets, April 20, 1997

The mid-90s were a pretty grim period in history for the Milwaukee Bucks. As the young team that would eventually put a strong Conference Finals run in 2001 came together, the results weren’t always pretty, but there were good performances as the team continued to learn.

Vin Baker was a man who was often found at the forefront of that too. Baker was probably a little unfortunate not to have a career in Milwaukee that was timed five years in either direction, as he found himself as a Buck in a relative period of drought for the franchise.

A great example of what Baker was capable of came when the Bucks matched up with the high flying Charlotte Hornets in the final game of the 1997 regular season. The Glen Rice and Vlade Divac led Hornets sealed a 54 win season in that game, but they did so with a loss, due in large part to Baker.

Baker posted 31 points and eight rebounds, a strong showing, but not necessarily something of note in a historical sense. That is, until you consider Baker’s efficiency.

Baker made all 13 of his field goal attempts on the night, the most field goals attempted without a miss in franchise history. The Bucks finished the season 33-49, but a 20 point win off such a strong performance was a nice way to conclude.

Baker would be traded to Seattle in the offseason that followed, meaning quite incredibly that what was arguably Baker’s greatest game as a Buck, also happened to be his last.

Next: 13. Vin Baker

13. Brian Winters – @ San Antonio Spurs, March 6, 1982

It’s easy to marvel at some of the high scoring games that are played out on a nightly basis in the Western Conference in the modern day, but high scoring games throughout the 70s and 80s could take that to a completely different level.

This 1982 epic between Milwaukee and San Antonio is a great example of that, a game which holds its place in history due to the incredible volume of scoring.

The game needed three overtime periods to eventually find a winner, which was unfortunately the Spurs, but it would finish as the second highest scoring game in the history of the NBA. The Spurs were paced by 50 points from “The Iceman” George Gervin, while it was smooth shooting Brian Winters who led the way for the Bucks.

Winters was never necessarily known as a volume scorer, but was an incredibly high IQ player who arrived in Milwaukee as part of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trade and often went underrated.

Winters played a total of 40 minutes and stuffed the stat sheet. Shooting 19-15 from the field, Winters scored 42 points to go with six assists, five rebounds and three steals. The complete all-round performance in one of the most entertaining games the NBA has ever seen.

Next: 12. Sidney Moncrief

12. Sidney Moncrief – @ Denver Nuggets, November 19, 1983

Sidney Moncrief is comfortably one of the greatest players ever to play for the Bucks for a whole host of reasons. He was the driving force for the team in an important time of change, that eventually became the franchise’s longest period of sustained winning.

Moncrief was a winner on his time on the floor, and more often than not he would do whatever his team needed him to in order for them to be successful. Often that was filling the role of distributor, so in spite of being an excellent scorer, it was rare to see Moncrief take over and look to shoulder the scoring load single-handedly.

In this early season clash against former Bucks Alex English‘s Denver Nuggets, that’s exactly what Sid the Squid did for Milwaukee though.

Moncrief posted a career-high 43 points to go with an impressive haul of 12 rebounds, in a performance that showed the guard’s ability to torment the opposition. Moncrief made 13-17 field goal attempts, but also made hay at the free throw line where he made 17-19.

The Bucks lost the game, and considering his character, that likely meant that his own performance acted as no consolation to the competitive former Arkansas Razorback.

Next: 11. Ray Allen

11. Ray Allen – @ Philadelphia 76ers, February 26, 2001

This wasn’t Ray Allen’s highest scoring game as a Buck, nor was it even his most memorable or important against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2001 season (the highlights from the ECF game above will attest to that), but it’s the game that serves as the perfect reminder of exactly the type of player that Allen was in his prime.

Where many NBA fans today will have their memories of Allen as the lights out specialist shooter, “Jesus Shuttlesworth” was once much more dynamic than that gives him credit for. Ray Allen could do it all.

With both teams gunning for the playoffs, and it looking likely that they could indeed meet as rivals further down the line, this was the type of regular season game that starts to take on some extra meaning. If the Bucks were to go in to Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center and grab a win, that would make a real statement.

That’s exactly what George Karl‘s team ultimately managed to do thanks to Allen. The former UConn Husky put on a show, scoring 42 points, but also grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists to go with them.

On this occasion Allen was Milwaukee’s conductor, throwing down the gauntlet to Iverson for the rivalry that would develop between them when the post-season rolled around.

Next: 10. Ricky Pierce

10. Ricky Pierce – @ Sacramento Kings, December 5, 1989

Ricky Pierce could go off and score at any given second, and that was what made him so special as a player. Pierce was one of the greatest role players that the NBA has ever seen, and was very much a defining figure in terms of his role as a Sixth Man through the late 80s and early 90s.

Pierce shooting drove his game, but it was the fact that he could create for himself on top of being a great spot up shooter that made him so different. The Texan’s own brand of instant offense meant that there was always a chance he could step in and turn a game in Milwaukee’s favor.

Although they didn’t win the game, perhaps the best example of that was this Bucks road clash with the Sacramento Kings.

Pierce came in to play 36 minutes on the night, and exploded for a colossal 45 points in that time. Pierce made 17-26 from the field, 3-4 from behind the arc, and 8-9 from the free throw line, while also throwing in three rebounds, two assists and a steal for good measure.

On a night where outside of Alvin Robertson’s 20 points, Jay Humphries was the only other starter to reach double digits with 12 points, Pierce’s bench contribution allowed the Bucks to stay in the game. That wasn’t the only time where that could be said of him either.

Next: 9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – @ Houston Rockets, January 25, 1973

For a list like this you can take your pick from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s countless great performances from his days with the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, I could comfortably have made this piece Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 20 greatest Milwaukee Bucks performances if I had wanted to either.

As a result, only the most unique and very best of the man once known as Lew Alcindor’s games can make this list.

On this particular occasion, a strong Bucks team still mostly comprised of the core of the championship winning team made their way to Houston to square off with Rudy Tomjanovich‘s Rockets.

The Bucks would narrowly lose the game, but they were carried through the encounter behind 48 points from their legendary big man. That in itself isn’t particularly unusual for a man who had countless 50 point showings, but it was the manner in which he did it that was different.

Free throws are often the staple of any great scorers diet, yet on this occasion, Kareem notched up his 48 points without a single trip to the charity stripe. That sees him tied at the top of the charts in NBA history for most single game points without attempting a free throw with, fittingly enough, Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon.

Next: 8. Ramon Sessions

Nov 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Washington Wizards guard

(7) dribbles the ball against Detroit Pistons guard

(1) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

8. Ramon Sessions – vs. Detroit Pistons, February 7, 2009

As time goes on many of the best performances in franchise history end up being forgotten. They drift out of a fanbase’s consciousness only to rear their head as a pleasant surprise years later. One such example which it’s fair to say is probably more of a shock than a surprise was the career night of a young Ramon Sessions.

When the Bucks selected Sessions as a second round pick back in 2007, they wouldn’t have been expecting performances like this one out of the South Carolina native. Sessions was a solid if unspectacular point guard throughout his time in Milwaukee, with one game acting as an exception.

Squaring off against a strong but transitioning Pistons team, Milwaukee found themselves in a close game that went all the way to overtime.

The Bucks had Sessions to thank for that much, as the man in the no.7 jersey completely controlled the game.

Sessions had 44 points on 13-18 from the field, while also dishing out 12 assists, and even grabbing five rebounds. Considering that Sessions averaged 12.4 points for that season, that was a pretty special performance.

Next: 7. Paul Pressey

7. Paul Pressey – vs. Los Angeles Lakers, December 10, 1986

Pressey was one of the original point forwards in both Milwaukee, and the NBA as a whole. Not many players could influence a game quite as greatly, yet somehow Pressey often managed to remain in the background staying widely unheralded.

This game early in the 1986 season showed exactly how influential and talented the playmaking forward was though.

The Los Angeles Lakers came to visit Milwaukee after a solid 10-3 start to the season, equipped with Magic Johnson, James Worthy and an aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Little did the Lakers know, but the reality was they had just come to town for the Paul Pressey show.

Pressey posted an emphatic triple-double of 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, seizing complete control of the game. It didn’t end at that either, as Pressey, always a skilled defender, also added five steals into the mix for good measure too.

Even with all of their skill, there was never much that the Lakers were going to be able to do about that sort of performance.

Next: 6. Alvin Robertson

6. Alvin Robertson – vs. Golden State Warriors, December 26, 1990

As the Golden State Warriors currently dominate the NBA, it’s in many ways natural to think back to one of their other great teams. In the late 80s and early 90s, Golden State were driven forward by the play of Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond.

The trio, otherwise known as Run TMC, made a rare visit to Milwaukee during the holiday season in 1990, and put in an incredible performance in front of the Bucks fans.

Run TMC combined for 79 of the Warriors 119 points, but it wouldn’t be enough to grab a victory for the visitors, as the Bucks had star performers of their own.

Although Jay Humphries may have led the team in scoring on the night with 28 points, it was Alvin Robertson who stole the show. Robertson went off for an outstanding triple-double to help seal a seven point win for Milwaukee.

Robertson scored 25 points to go with his 16 rebounds (10 of them offensive), 12 steals and five rebounds, in what was one of the most dominant individual performances that the franchise has been witness to.

Next: 5. Ray Allen

5. Ray Allen – vs. Charlotte Hornets, 14 April, 2002

Expectations were high for Milwaukee after just falling short in the Conference Finals in 2001, yet the Bucks couldn’t follow it up in a way that the fans would have hoped for. To this day, it remains tough to put a finger on why exactly that was.

One thing that can’t exactly be questioned is the talent level that the team possessed. The Bucks were lucky to have an emerging Ray Allen at the front of everything they were doing in that season, although it wouldn’t be too long before he would end up traded to Seattle.

If Ray Allen’s career is best remembered for his shooting, well there’s a strong chance that this may well be his piece de resistance.

Against a solid Charlotte team, who were better than the Bucks were for the season overall, Allen let fly, and reaped the benefits.

Milwaukee’s shooting guard scored a remarkable 47 points on only 23 field goal attempts. Allen attempted 14 three-pointers and knocked down 10 of them.  That’s a single game franchise record that still stands to this day.

Next: 4. Terry Cummings

4. Terry Cummings – vs. Dallas Mavericks, January 16, 1987

Terry Cummings is yet another example of the exceptionally versatile players who have graced Milwaukee over the years. Cummings isn’t remembered as a bona fide superstar, but that’s exactly what many of his contributions resembled at the time.

In this game against the fast rising Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee would eventually fall by just two points in a heartbreaking overtime loss, but there could be little doubting the fact that Cummings was the best player on the court.

Not for the first or last time in his time as a Buck, Cummings was dominant across the floor, doing a little bit of everything to help his team.

Cummings posted 39 points, along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists to achieve a really strong triple-double. Cummings also added six steals on the night too, which added to his 16-26 shooting performance made it comfortably one of the best performances in Bucks history.

As part of an era in franchise history that was filled with so much talent, it’s important that Bucks fans don’t forget the contributions of Terry Cummings.

Next: 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – vs. Boston Celtics, December 10, 1971

Beating the Boston Celtics is always a big deal. In the 70s and 80s, it was a real feather in a team’s cap though. Coming off the back of winning a championship, that was a more common occurrence, as Milwaukee’s confidence was sky high and Kareem’s sky hook was at its most effective.

Although they were some more experience and a couple of key cogs away from winning the title again in 1974, led by John Havlicek, the Celtics were still far from a pushover in ’71. When Abdul-Jabbar was at his best, there was very little anybody, never mind the Celtics, could do though.

This was Kareem at his most imperious during his time in Milwaukee too. His incredible scoring from this night set a mark that remained the franchise record for almost 35 years.

Kareem made 23 field goals on the night, along with nine of his 11 free throw attempts, as The Captain posted a remarkable 55 points.

Very simply, Boston’s center Dave Cowens had no answer, as at 6’9″ he was simply outmatched by Kareem’s exceptional size and length. Much like what could be said for most of the league’s centers of that era too.

Next: 2. Brandon Jennings

2. Brandon Jennings – vs. Golden State Warriors, November 14, 2009

Brandon Jennings’ 55 point game is a performance that’s still often discussed up to this very day, but many of the key details and the background to it simply doesn’t get mentioned enough.

In the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors, rookie point guard Brandon Jennings was held scoreless. For the next three quarters, Jennings simply couldn’t be stopped though. Jennings had had experience playing in Europe of course, but effectively, he was only a couple of weeks into his NBA career.

Jennings went 21-34 from the field and was red-hot from behind the three-point line, making 7-8 attempts. It wasn’t all scoring either, Jennings also threw five assists and five rebounds into the mix for good measure.

Looking back on this game now understandably brings conflicted feelings for a rookie guard who shows himself to be capable of performances of this magnitude, and unfortunately it would never materialize in that way for Jennings and Milwaukee again.

Still, that 55 point night will always be a great memory for all parties involved to look back on.

Next: 1. Michael Redd

1. Michael Redd – vs. Utah Jazz, November 11, 2006

Any time somebody forgets or questions Michael Redd’s scoring ability, this is the game to point them towards. Redd absolutely blitzed an outstanding Jazz team with a performance that still stands as the franchise single game scoring record, and likely will for years to come.

Redd entered the half with 15 points, a strong showing, but certainly not out of the ordinary for Redd throughout his career. Once the second half began there was simply no stopping him though, as between the third and fourth quarter Redd notched up 42 points, for an impressive total of 57.

Redd went 18-32 from the field and 6-12 from deep, but equally important should be the competition he did it against. Redd spent the majority of his night matched up with Andrei Kirilenko and a young Paul Millsap, neither of whom ever had a reputation for being matador defenders.

Redd had to work for his points, but when he got in a rhythm like that, he was basically impossible to stop.

Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking Top 10 Draft Picks In Franchise History

It almost seems like a waste that the Bucks ended up losing the game by two points, yet the Jazz were so superior to Milwaukee at that time that it’s a testament to Redd that he helped them to make a game of it.