The 50 Greatest Players in Milwaukee Bucks History

4. Marques Johnson – The First M.J.

The Stats: Seven seasons played in Milwaukee. 21.0/7.5/3.7/1.3/0.8 on 53.0/14.5/73.6.

The Accolades: Drafted third overall by the Bucks in 1977. All-Star in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983. Selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1979, the Second Team in 1980 and 1981 and the All-Rookie First Team in 1978. Has the sixth-most points scored in franchise history, third-most rebounds, ninth-most assists, sixth-most steals, seventh-most blocks. Led the Bucks in win shares in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981. 

The Breakdown: Marques Johnson embodied the Don Nelson era of Bucks basketball. Johnson was a rookie in the same season Nelson took over the team, and rode with him until he was traded in 1984. Why one would trade an incredible player like Marques Johnson fresh off of back-to-back Conference Finals trips is incomprehensible, but that’s what happened.

Before that did happen, though, Johnson tore up the entire NBA for his entire Milwaukee tenure. Johnson only averaged less than 20 points twice: his rookie season, and an injury-plagued 1982 season in which he still managed to score over 16 points per game, his lowest average with the Bucks.

Johnson averaged a double-double his rookie season–a pretty good indication he was going to be a special player. If he had stayed in Milwaukee–and stayed healthy–there’s no doubt Marques Johnson could’ve climbed higher on this list. Bucks fans should still have a hard time complaining about seven of the best seasons the city has ever seen, though.

Next: Number 3