The 50 Greatest Players in Milwaukee Bucks History

Ti Windisch

The top tier of Milwaukee talent: this list contains the 50 best players to ever suit up for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It might take a few minutes to name the top 10 Milwaukee Bucks of all time. Many fans could probably produce a very good list in almost no time at all. Maybe they could even rattle off the greatest 25 Bucks ever with only missing a few names.

But what about the top 50? Naming 50 players from any one team’s history is no mean feat, but ranking the 50 greatest players to ever suit up for the Bucks is impossible from memory. So we here at Behind the Buck Pass created our own top 50 list.

50. Kent Benson – The Solid Center

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 9.8/5.9/2.1/1.0/1.0 on 49.7/00.0/70.0.

The Accolades: Selected first overall in the 1977 NBA Draft by the Bucks. Broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s hand…with his face.

The Breakdown: That second accolade might not really be an accolade, but there’s not much else that Kent Benson is really known for. That eight second clip of him blocking a shot in college is about the only YouTube video you can find online of Benson playing basketball that doesn’t involve his jaw being broken by the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Just because he wasn’t noteworthy, however, does not mean Benson didn’t enjoy success in Milwaukee. Benson was a solid, starting-caliber center in Milwaukee for two and a half seasons, before he was traded to Detroit for the 22nd greatest Buck.

Although he never really earned his status as a first overall pick, Benson still had a solid NBA career. He really shined for the Bucks in 1979, when he averaged 12.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game on a 51.8 field goal percentage.

Next: Number 49

49. Craig Hodges – Milwaukee’s Sharpshooter

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 10.5/1.8/3.4/1.0/0.0 on 47.8/40.4/85.6.

The Accolades: Lead the NBA in three-point percentage two different seasons spent in Milwaukee (1986 and 1988). Was a significant part of two of the best three Don Nelson teams (1985 and 1986).

The Breakdown: Craig Hodges may not have been an All-Star in his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, but he sure was efficient. Hodges is the eighth best three-point shooter in Bucks history percentage-wise, although interestingly enough he did not have much touch in his two seasons before coming to the Bucks.

Hodges may not be known as a Buck, but maybe he should be. Despite playing 12 NBA seasons and only spending three and a half of them here, Hodges played nearly half of his NBA minutes in Milwaukee, the only team to start him for 50 games in a season.

Hodges is more known for his time with the rival Chicago Bulls however, where he won two NBA Championships and three Three-Point Contests. Still though, Hodges certainly did not disappoint the Bucks in his time with the team, or even in his departure seeing as he was flipped for a player yet to come on this list.

Next: Number 48

48. Drew Gooden – At Least He Tried

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 11.3/5.8/1.8/0.7/0.5 on 42.9/25.0/82.2.

The Accolades: Recorded two triple-doubles in Milwaukee.

The Breakdown: Drew Gooden is not exactly a beloved Buck, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t quietly productive in his time in Milwaukee. His five-year, $32 million contract was a clear overpay but in his first two seasons with the Bucks, Gooden was…well..good.

He missed a lot of games over those two seasons, but still averaged nearly 12 points, six and a half rebounds and just over two assists per game in 2011 and 2012. His last Milwaukee season consisted mainly of Gooden sitting on the bench, thanks to young big men John Henson and Larry Sanders dominating the minutes at those positions.

Still, Gooden sat on the bench and cheered on his teammates, instead of having a more sour attitude about the whole thing. He ended up being the player the Bucks chose to amnesty in 2013, meaning the rest of his contract wouldn’t count against Milwaukee’s salary cap.

In retrospect, Gooden wasn’t really bad in Milwaukee. The fit wasn’t good, and the price was too high, but those circumstances were fairly out of Drew Gooden’s control–he wasn’t about to turn down a guaranteed $32 million. Who would?

Next: Number 47

47. Gary Payton – Milwaukee’s Best Rental

The Stats: One season played in Milwaukee. 19.6/3.1/7.4/1.4/0.3 on 46.6/29.4/74.6.

The Accolades: Lead the 2003 Bucks in points and assists per game in their first round loss to the then New Jersey Nets. 8th among all Bucks in points per game, and third in assists per game.

The Breakdown: Okay, so saying Gary Payton spent a season with the Bucks may be a slight overstatement. He played 28 regular season games in Milwaukee, plus six postseason games. But although he was a Buck for merely 34 combined games, he was fantastic in that small sample size.

Payton actually played his best basketball with the Bucks in terms of points per game, assists per game and blocks per game. He was great in Milwaukee, but the fanbase was going to be against him anyway seeing as Ray Allen was lose in the trade that brought him to the Bucks.

He carried the Bucks in the 2003 playoffs, but the Jason Kidd-led, defending champion New Jersey Nets were simply too good for Payton and the Bucks to contend with. If only Milwaukee had been able to keep Payton around just a bit longer.

Next: Number 46

46. Dale Ellis – The Steady Marksman

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 15.0/3.1/1.2/0.7/0.2 on 47.3/43.1/75.2.

The Accolades: Holds the 5th best three-point percentage among all Bucks to have at least 100 three-point attempts.

The Breakdown: Much like Kent Benson, Dale Ellis didn’t really have many accolades in his time with the Milwaukee Bucks. Part of that is due to Ellis not spending much time on the Bucks–two of his three seasons he was traded, and he only participated in eight games as a Buck in 2000.

Still though, Dale Ellis was a productive member of the Bucks in the early 1990s. He was a sharpshooter who was ahead of his time–after he left the Bucks in 1992, he was the top three-point shooter in Milwaukee’s history, percentage-wise.

Ellis is also one of the top 20 Bucks in points per game that played at least 100 games with the franchise. He doesn’t lead any categories for Milwaukee, but his efficient 15 points per game was certainly appreciated by his teammates and coaches during his stay(s) on the Bucks.

Ellis may not be a very memorable Buck, but he was a part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ second-best season under head coach Del Harris in 1991. Even though he isn’t a large part of Bucks history, Ellis certainly deserves a little slice of it.

Next: Number 45

45. Ramon Sessions – A Second-Round Steal for the Bucks

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 12.6/3.3/5.8/0.9/0.1 on 44.8/29.9/80.7.

The Accolades: Recorded a 20-20 game, triple-double and 40-10 game. Was drafted 56th overall by the Bucks in 2007. Won two D-League Performer of the Week awards.

The Breakdown: Ramon Sessions is one of those players that refuses to bow to expectations. Second round draft picks often never catch on in the NBA, but Sessions sure did. He is usually seen as more of a distributor than a scorer, but he’s been brilliant at both of those things in flashes in his time with the Bucks.

Unfortunately he’s not more consistent, or Sessions would probably be a lot higher on this list. Still though, recording a 20 point/20 assist game, a 40 point/10 assist game and a triple-double all in Milwaukee is pretty extraordinary, especially for a 56th overall draft pick.

Sessions might not be remember as a great player by most Bucks fans, but he sure could throw up a massive game with no warning. He’s earned his spot both on this list and on Adam McGee’s list of the Top 20 Individual Performaces in Bucks history.

Next: Number 44

44. Swen Nater – The Remarkable Rebounder

The Stats: One season played in Milwaukee. 13.0/12.0/1.5/0.8/0.7 on 52.8/00.0/75.4.

The Accolades: Led the 1977 Milwaukee Bucks in win shares, recorded a 30 point, 30 rebound game, second all-time in Bucks history in rebounds per game.

The Breakdown: Swen Nater has a bit of a complicated history with the Milwaukee Bucks. The team actually attempted to draft him in 1974, but there was a problem. That Bucks team had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Nater was fresh off of a college career that saw him average two minutes per game on the bench behind Bill Walton. Nater was done riding the pine.

So he instead opted for the ABA, where he became known as a rebounding terror. He then bounced around several ABA teams before that league folded, and Nater finally found himself back on the Bucks! He only spent a season in Milwaukee before being traded for the fourth greatest Buck, but Nater made sure to make an impact in his brief stint on the Bucks.

This great Hardwood Paroxysm piece details his rare feat well:

"In mid-December, the Bucks took on the Hawks and demolished them 129-106 behind a breathtaking 30 point-33 rebound effort by Swen. Since Swen, only Moses Malone (2x), Robert Parish, Kevin Love and Kareem have achieved 30 points and 30 rebounds in a single game"

So although Nater seems to have been largely forgotten by younger NBA fans, he sure could rebound! It’s noteworthy that three of the players to accomplish that feat spent at least some time in Milwaukee. There’s just something about the Bucks and great rebounders, it seems!

Next: Number 43

43. Tim Thomas – Milwaukee’s Very Own Master Of None

The Stats: Six seasons played in Milwaukee. 12.2/4.2/1.5/0.9/0.5 on 44.2/36.1/76.3.

The Accolades: Played a significant role on George Karl’s best Bucks team in 2001, only six Bucks have made more three-pointers in Milwaukee.

The Breakdown: Tim Thomas was a role player for most of his career who bounced from team to team on a yearly basis, aside from his long stint with the Bucks. He was never the best player on a Bucks team, but he certainly contributed to the best season Milwaukee has seen since Del Harris last served as head coach.

Thomas was a jack of all trades, but master of none. He could shoot from distance, score inside, pass a little and was an okay defender–all of which are valued skills for a 6’10” forward. The allure of his skills kept him employed for a long time in the NBA, but the fact that no team besides the Bucks kept him around for more than 150 games speaks to his inability to do any one thing very well.

Still, Thomas did shine at times for the Bucks, and also stuck around for a while. He had maybe his best season in 2003, averaging 13.3 points and 4.9 rebounds on 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc. Much like the rest of his time in Milwaukee, Tim Thomas wasn’t really wowing anybody with his production, but he was pretty good.

Next: Number 42

42. Frank Brickowski – The Brick

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.9/5.8/2.5/1.1/0.5 on 52.3/26.9/76.6.

The Accolades: Has the 9th best field goal percentage among Bucks that played in at least 50 games.

The Breakdown: Frank Brickowski is more known for his stints with the Spurs and Supersonics than he is for his time in Milwaukee, but he still did some good things in his time with the Bucks. He somehow had a different position listed for each of his three full seasons in Milwaukee–playing power forward in 1991, small forward in 1992 and center in 1993. That’s some impressive versatility!

Brickowski was a full-time starter for his entire time with the Bucks, and really suffers from his era. Outside of his first season he never went to the postseason with the Bucks. If he had, there’s a very good chance Brickowski would be remembered more fondly.

The Brick belongs on this list thanks to his consistent, steady play. He never made an All-Star team or led the NBA in anything, but neither do most guys in the NBA. Those accolades are certainly nice, but they’re not necessary for a player like Frank Brickowski to have a strong if unspectacular legacy in Milwaukee.

Next: Number 41

41. Zaza Pachulia – The Greatest NBA Player of All-Time That Can’t Jump

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 7.4/6.1/1.9/0.8/0.3 on 44.6/00.0/78.7.

The Accolades: Holds the record for the most offensive rebounds in one game in Milwaukee, had a 20-20 game, played an important role on the best Jason Kidd Bucks team to date.

The Breakdown: Zaza Pachulia might be one of the least flashy good NBA players to ever exist. Nothing about his play stands out to casual fans: he can’t jump, he isn’t a dynamic scorer, and most of the points he does score come off of lay-ups and boring elbow jumpers. So why is he here?

Mostly because of his presence. Pachulia, along with Jared Dudley, was the veteran leadership that propelled the 2015 Bucks to a 41-41 finish and brought them fairly close to a huge first round upset of the Chicago Bulls. In that same season Pachulia recorded 18 rebounds in a single game, which is a Milwaukee Bucks record and the third-most offensive boards ever pulled in in NBA history.

Pachulia was never meant to be a starter for the Bucks, but thanks to injuries and other problems would end up starting over half of the games he played in Milwaukee in his second stint here.

His statistics aren’t overly impressive in his time with the Bucks thanks to his low minutes played per game, but that shouldn’t take away from his greatness. Pachulia was effective in his role, and always helped the Bucks in whatever way they needed him to.

Next: Number 40

40. Greg Smith – The Fifth Starter

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 9.7/8.4/2.2/0.0/0.0 on 49.3/00.0/66.3.

The Accolades: Started on the Bucks 1971 championship team. Drafted 50th overall in 1968, part of the first Bucks team in NBA history.

The Breakdown: Greg Smith is very much a right place, right time kind of guy. Smith managed to break 10 points a game just once in his 10 year career. That one season just so happened to be 1971, the year the Milwaukee Bucks won their first and only NBA title.

Thus, Smith goes down in history. And rightfully so. Smith recorded career-bests in points and assists per game that season, and had the second-most rebounds per game of his career. He also stepped up big time in the playoffs, averaging 11.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 54.7 percent from the field.

Smith understood that with Jon McGlocklin, Bob Dandridge, Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar starting alongside him, he didn’t have to do much for the Bucks. So he played smart, efficient basketball and made sure to not hurt his team, which was all Milwaukee needed from him to win a title that season.

Next: Number 39

39. Moses Malone – The Nearly-Retired Chairman of the Board

The Stats: Two seasons played in Milwaukee. 14.3/8.5/1.1/0.8/0.8 on 46.7/37.5/78.5.

The Accolades: Lead the 1992 Bucks in win shares, 14th overall in rebounds per game among all Milwaukee Bucks.

The Breakdown: Clearly, nobody remembers Moses Malone as a Milwaukee Buck. He is an NBA Hall of Famer, but it wasn’t because of his 15.6/9.1 season with the Bucks in 1992. However, just because he enjoyed more success with the Rockets, 76ers and Bullets doesn’t invalidate his good run in Milwaukee.

Although Malone was at the end of his career, he still brought it in his healthy season with the Bucks. The old Chairman managed to score 30 points twice in 1992, including a 30 point, 19 rebound performance against the Seattle Supersonics.

Aside from injuries that kept him out for most of 1993, the most unfortunate part of Malone’s Milwaukee tenure is that the Bucks just weren’t good while he was there. Malone could still ball in his first Bucks season–it would’ve been something special to watch him work in the playoffs that season.

Next: Number 38

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

38. Elmore Smith – A Real Big Buck

The Stats: Two seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.4/9.8/1.1/0.9/2.7 on 50.3/00.0/62.1.

The Accolades: Fourth-best Buck in terms of rebounds per game, averaged a double-double in 1976.

The Breakdown: It’s hard to see any positives coming from trading away Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but getting three of the franchise’s 50 greatest players does tend to soften the blow just a bit. Along with Elmore Smith, Milwaukee also got two other players on this list for Kareem.

Being the center to replace Kareem can’t have been easy, but Smith held his own despite the tough circumstances. In his only full season with the Bucks, Smith averaged 15.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game! Smith was a classic kind of center–he scored down low, he rebounded and he blocked shots.

Unfortunately Smith would be dealt halfway through the next year, in large part due to Swen Nater becoming Milwaukee’s primary center for a season, before he would end up losing out to Kent Benson. The Bucks really messed up passing on Nater and Smith in this era, but luckily they still managed to find a lot of success over the next decade thanks to some players found much farther along on this list.

Next: Number 37

37. Richard Jefferson – Milwaukee’s One-Hit Wonder

The Stats: One season played in Milwaukee. 19.6/4.6/2.4/0.8/0.2 on 43.9/39.7/80.5.

The Accolades: Has the sixth most points per game among all Bucks, lead the Bucks in win shares in 2009.

The Breakdown: Richard Jefferson spent just one season in Milwaukee. 2009 wasn’t especially memorable for Bucks fans, but it was the best season the franchise had experienced since 2006, largely thanks to Jefferson’s excellent play. Jefferson’s addition wasn’t enough to get Milwaukee to the postseason, but he still flourished on the Bucks.

Jefferson led that team in win shares, which is impressive considering a few names that will appear higher on this list shared the starting lineup with him. Should Jefferson have stuck around for a few more seasons, he’d probably find himself right there with those teammates.

But he only stayed for one year, so as impressive as it was it seemed wrong to place a one-hit wonder with no playoff time on the Bucks much higher than here. Jefferson is in good company–he’s one of just 10 Bucks to average 19 points or more in their time with the team, and all ten of those names are on this list.

Next: Number 36

36. Larry Sanders – Leader of the Block Party

The Stats: Five seasons played in Milwaukee. 6.5/5.8/0.7/0.6/1.8 on 48.0/00.0/55.5.

The Accolades: Has the ninth-most blocks in Bucks history, recorded a points-rebounds-blocks triple-double, led the NBA in block percentage in 2013, drafted 15th overall in 2010.

The Breakdown: Navigating Larry Sanders’ time with the Milwaukee Bucks is certainly impossible in just three paragraphs, so we’ll focus on some of the positive aspects. Sanders was legitimately good enough of a defensive player to vault himself into contention for the Bucks All-Defense team.

His basic statistics are nothing to write home about, but when Sanders was on he was nearly impenetrable in the paint. There was a time where he was seen as Milwaukee’s obvious long-term option at center, despite his lack of much scoring. He just did everything else so well.

Of course things didn’t end up playing out that way, and despite being just 27 years old Sanders is entirely out of basketball these days. That’s a shame–if he had been able to play in Milwaukee for the rest of his career, Sanders would almost certainly have made the top half of this list.

Next: Number 35

35. Terrell Brandon – The Deer Dimer

The Stats: Two seasons played in Milwaukee. 16.1/3.5/7.6/2.1/0.3 on 45.2/31.4/84.5.

The Accolades: Leads all Bucks in assists per game, recorded 14 or more assists four times in just 65 games with the Bucks.

The Breakdown: Terrell Brandon has sadly been largely forgotten thanks to all of the great point guards that came after him. In the mid 1990s he was one of the best floor generals in the NBA, if not the best. Like Moses Malone, Brandon only made it to the Bucks on the tail end of his career but still left a mark on Milwaukee.

Although the sample size is unfortunately small, the fact that Brandon averaged more assists per game than Gary Payton or Oscar Robertson speaks to how phenomenal of a point guard he was. Brandon was a skilled scorer and defender as well, as showcased by his skillful steal on John Stockton in the above video.

Unfortunately, Brandon would be traded halfway through George Karl’s first year as head coach of the Bucks, and thus miss out on making it to the playoffs with Milwaukee. If injuries hadn’t derailed his career in the early 2000s, Brandon would probably make it on lists like these far more often.

Next: Number 34

34. Desmond Mason – The Leaping Buck

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 14.3/4.5/2.2/0.7/0.4 on 46.3/23.4/76.7.

The Accolades: Threw down 170 monster dunks in just 249 games with the Bucks.

The Breakdown: Although he didn’t come away with many traditional accolades per se, Desmond Mason was fantastic on the Milwaukee Bucks. Like most of the names on this list, Mason lost out by being on some less than great teams, but he still shined individually and did find some team success in his time with the Bucks.

Mason was a tremendous dunker who won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in his rookie season (away from Milwaukee, unfortunately), and continued to throw down for most of his career. He also shined in the same playoff series that Gary Payton did, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per contest on over 50 percent shooting from the field.

Mason gave the Bucks his prime NBA seasons, and should be remembered fondly for that. He also returned to the Bucks in free agency for the 2008 season despite being traded away a few seasons earlier, and that earns him major loyalty and maturity points.

Next: Number 33

33. Jack Sikma – Master of the Free Throws

The Stats: Five seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.4/7.9/2.9/1.0/0.9 on 44.7/35.2/88.4.

The Accolades: Led the NBA in free throw percentage in 1988 at 92.2 percent. 16th in points scored and eighth in rebounds grabbed among all Bucks. Led the Bucks in win shares in 1988 and 1989.

The Breakdown: Jack Sikma is a verifiable NBA legend, but unfortunately most of his best years came when he was a Seattle SuperSonic. Sikma did have a lot left in the tank for the Bucks in the late 1980s and early 1990s though.

Sikma was the full time starter for almost the entirety of the Del Harris era in Milwaukee. Although Harris never quite reached the levels of success his predecessor, Harris is still easily one of the best four coaches the Bucks have ever had. Sikma has a lot to do with that.

Although his individual statistics aren’t eye-popping, having a reliable, tough presence in the paint every single game is huge for a basketball team. In his time with the Bucks, Sikma played 392 out of a possible 410 games, or 95 percent of all games. That’s even higher than his free throw percentage in 1988!

Next: Number 32

32. Lucius Allen – The Auxiliary Guard

The Stats: Five seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.8/3.3/4.4/1.8/0.3 on 48.5/00.0/75.6.

The Accolades: Played an important role on the Bucks in the early 1970s, including on the championship team in 1971.

The Breakdown: Lucius Allen was an integral part of the best Bucks teams in the early 1970s. In his four full seasons with Milwaukee from 1971-1974, the Bucks recorded three of their four 60 win seasons in franchise history. The fourth season Allen spent with Milwaukee he just missed out on yet another 60 win season–that team won 59 games.

Allen played a sixth man sort of role on the Bucks championship team, playing 22.3 minutes per game despite having two legendary guards ahead of him in the rotation. That speaks to just how much respect Allen had on those teams–if he wasn’t seriously good, he wouldn’t have found minutes on the Bucks in 1971.

Allen’s role only grew from there, as he became a starter in the following years. In one of the more unfortunate twists in Bucks history, Allen missed the entirety of the 1974 playoffs. The Bucks still made the NBA Finals that year, but lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. If Milwaukee had Allen for that series, everything could be different in Bucks history.

Next: Number 31

31. Alton Lister – A Respected, Reliable Center

The Stats: Seven seasons played in Milwaukee. 7.3/6.5/1.2/0.5/1.7 on 52.7/00.0/57.5.

The Accolades: First all-time in blocks recorded and 10th all-time in total rebounds recorded in franchise history, drafted 21st overall by the Bucks in 1981, (somehow) got MVP votes in 1983.

The Breakdown: Alton Lister was a solid player. He spent at least portions of seven seasons in Milwaukee, and although his per game numbers were never remarkable his consistency was enough to propel him up the Bucks leaderboards, where Lister still holds the top spot in blocks and a top ten spot in rebounds.

In his first stint with the Bucks from 1982-86, Lister missed a grand total of six games. Now that’s reliable. Despite playing just 23.6 minutes per game in 1983, Lister actually received a couple of votes for NBA MVP! Consistency must have been really important to voters back in the day.

His last two years spent with the Bucks were not as memorable as his time on those great 1980s teams was, but Lister was still a solid enough player near the end of his career. He may not have been the flashiest, but his consistent level of play in a Bucks jersey has kept Lister involved on the top of the Bucks leaderboards for the last 30 years.

Next: Number 30

30. Mo Williams – The Hitman

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 14.1/3.5/5.7/1.1/0.1 on 45.0/36.4/85.3.

The Accolades: 10th most assists per game among all Bucks. Has the 17th most total assists of any Buck.

The Breakdown: Mo Williams morphed from a role player and career backup to a full-time starter in his time with the Bucks, but unfortunately failed to accomplish many team accolades in his Milwaukee stint. The Bucks made the playoffs just once in Williams’ four full seasons in Milwaukee, and never finished with a .500 record or better.

Williams would go on to achieve some success after the Bucks eventually traded him (no surprise there), including making the All-Star team in the first season after being dealt. That may have had slightly enabled by being on a LeBron James-led 66 win Cavaliers team, however.

Williams may not go down as a great historic Buck, but he played an important role on the team during his tenure in Milwaukee and had a few crazy individual performances in his time with the Bucks. Who knows, maybe the journeyman will end up back here someday.

Next: Number 29

29. Jay Humphries – A Dual-Threat Point Guard

The Stats: Five seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.4/2.7/6.0/1.8/0.1 on 48.6/31.4/79.2.

The Accolades: Lead the Bucks in win shares in 1990 and 1991, ranks 10th in Bucks history in assists recorded and eighth in assists per game.

The Breakdown: One of the most surprising parts of this list is all the sneaky great point guards that have spent time on the Bucks throughout franchise history. Humphries is certainly one of those–in his three-year prime from 1990-92, Humphries averaged 14.8 points and 6.4 assists per game on just under 50 percent shooting from the field.

Humphries played an important role on the Del Harris team that made the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1989. Humphries stepped up his game in the postseason that year, averaging 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds on 49.5 percent shooting from the field.

That occasion is important because it’s one of exactly two times the Bucks have made it that far since Don Nelson left Milwaukee. It took Humphries a little while to gain the starting point guard spot on the Bucks, but once he got it he didn’t give it up until the team eventually traded him in 1992.

Next: Number 28

28. Ersan Ilyasova – Turkish Thunder

The Stats: Seven seasons played in Milwaukee. 10.7/6.0/1.1/0.7/0.4 on 44.7/37.0/77.6.

The Accolades: Lead the Bucks in win shares in 2012 and 2013, top 20 in Bucks history in minutes played as well as points and total rebounds recorded.

The Breakdown: Ersan Ilyasova is a Bucks great. That may be a little hard to process, but it’s absolutely true. He struggled through one of the worst eras in franchise history, but Ilyasova still managed to have a few very strong seasons and even creep up Milwaukee’s all-time leaderboards.

Ilyasova is a typical stretch four, and as such shot 37 percent from beyond the arc in his time with the Bucks. Nagging njuries plagued him throughout his career–only twice was Ilyasova able to play 70 games in a season in Milwaukee, although he also never played less than 55 games either.

It sounds like a backhanded compliment, but Ilyasova’s biggest strength was that he was around through some of Milwaukee’s worst days, and helped lead the team for a couple of them. When most players split for greener pastures, Ilyasova stuck around until the team traded him in 2015.

Next: Number 27

27. Giannis Antetokounmpo – The Greek Freak

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 10.7/5.7/2.4/0.8/1.0 on 47.5/29.6/73.8

The Accolades: Drafted 15th overall by the Bucks in 2013. NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2014, BBVA Rising Star in 2013 and 2014, Eastern Conference Player of the Week in February 2015.

The Breakdown: Ranking current members of the Bucks was the hardest part of this list. It’s much easier to place players around each other in a historical sense than it is to place current players among them. Giannis and one of his teammates are included on this list–Jabari Parker is not. Although all signs point to Parker being a potentially great player, he just hasn’t been around long enough yet.

Anyway, back to Giannis. Antetokounmpo was an important part of the Bucks making it to the sixth seed in 2015 and taking the Chicago Bulls to six games, and also has made an incredible leap in his third year, shooting over 50 percent and scoring more than 15 points per game for the first time. Without that leap, he’d probably be about 10 spots lower on this list.

Giannis is finding himself in historic company for the great statistics he’s averaging across the board in his third season, and will only shoot higher and higher up this list as he stays with Milwaukee. He’s a generational talent, and the Bucks are lucky to have him.

Next: Number 26

26. Khris Middleton – Khash

The Stats: Three seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.1/4.0/2.4/1.3/0.2 on 44.6/41.5/86.6

The Accolades: Was a top 10 player in 2015 according to Real Plus-Minus, fifth all-time among Bucks in three-point percentage. Has the ninth-most made three-pointers in franchise history despite being 12th in attempted threes. Led the 2015 Bucks in win shares.

The Breakdown: Khris Middleton gets a slight edge over Giannis thanks to spending his rookie season in Detroit, and thus not having those stats count in his Milwaukee totals. That makes his three Bucks seasons look better statistically, plus ranking that high in real plus-minus was a pretty huge accomplishment.

Middleton has already proved himself as one of the best shooters in Bucks history, and if he stays with Milwaukee for long enough could make a serious run at the top of Milwaukee’s three-point leaderboards. At his current pace, Middleton could have the most three-pointers made in franchise history in roughly seven years.

Even if he never reaches those heights, Middleton is already a significant player in franchise history. He was a crucial part of Milwaukee’s playoff run in 2015, and should end up factoring in a few more of those over the course of his five-year deal with the Bucks.

Next: Number 25

25. Monta Ellis – Monta Ellis Have It All

The Stats: Two seasons played in Milwaukee. 18.9/3.8/6.0/1.9/0.4 on 41.9/28.4/77.1

The Accolades: Only ten Bucks have averaged more points per game than Ellis, and just six have averaged more assists per game.

The Breakdown: So maybe Monta Ellis didn’t have it all in his time with the Bucks. He at least had something. Ellis didn’t stick around in Milwaukee for long, but he had pretty great points and assists per game numbers in the season and a half he was here.

Of course, in retrospect having Stephen Curry come over instead of Ellis in the Andrew Bogut trade might have been a good idea, considering the way Curry is destroying NBA teams one at a time right now. But 2012 Curry was a far cry from 2015 Curry, and there’s no use getting caught up in what-ifs of that type for the Bucks.

Ellis brought energy and excitement to Milwaukee, which was something the franchise was sorely lacking at the time. Sure his Bucks team got steamrolled by the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in 2013, but then again, who didn’t? If he stuck around longer, Ellis would’ve found himself higher on this list. He may not be a champion, but he sure can pile up statistics in a hurry.

Next: Number 24

24. Flynn Robinson – Electric Eye

The Stats: Two seasons played in Milwaukee. 21.1/3.4/5.3/0.0/0.0 on 45.8/00.0/87.3

The Accolades: Third all-time among Bucks in points per game. Selected to the 1970 All-Star game. Led the NBA in free throw percentage in 1970.

The Breakdown: Flynn Robinson could’ve gotten a much larger legacy in Milwaukee had he not been traded in 1970, but it would have cost the Bucks. Robinson was they key asset on Milwaukee’s side of the trade that brought Oscar Robertson to the Bucks, and thus delivered Milwaukee’s first title.

Robinson was a great player in his own right, but clearly the Bucks got the better end of the deal. Robinson never matched his great 1970 season in the rest of his NBA (and ABA) career, and really never even got a chance to. No team gave Robinson 20 minutes a game or more after he left the Bucks, who gave him 33 minutes per contest in his Milwaukee days.

Still though, Robinson did have a hell of a season in 1970. Who knows how many steals he might’ve piled up too–those numbers along with blocks weren’t tracked until the 1974 season. Even without them though, Robinson was good enough to lure the Cincinnati Royals to give up an all-time legend for him.

Next: Number 23

23. Eric Murdock – The Man of Steal

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 14.0/3.2/6.8/2.0/0.1 on 45.0/35.6/79.3

The Accolades: Fifth among all Bucks in assists per game. Top 15 in both total steals and assists among all Bucks. Lead Milwaukee in win shares in 1993 and 1994.

The Breakdown: Eric Murdock has largely been forgotten as time has passed in Milwaukee, and that’s a shame. In the two seasons Murdock was given the starting point guard position on the Bucks, he led the team in win shares and managed to average 15 points and seven assists per game.

But unfortunately for Murdock, he was surrounded mostly by lesser talent for both of those seasons and the Bucks struggled mightily. That was the beginning of the darkest stretch in franchise history–from 1992-1998 Milwaukee missed the playoffs every single year, meaning the Bucks went seven seasons without getting to the postseason.

Murdock tried hard to push the Bucks forward in his time with the team, but a great point guard surrounded by an ancient Moses Malone, a rookie Vin Baker or Alvin Robertson in his last year with Milwaukee just wasn’t enough to turn things around. Despite peaking in the dark times, Murdock’s greatness should still be remembered.

Next: Number 22

22. Brandon Knight – The Good Knight

The Stats: Two seasons played in Milwaukee. 17.9/3.8/5.1/1.2/0.2 on 42.7/36.1/83.2

The Accolades: Top 15 all-time among Bucks in points per game, top 20 in assists per game.

The Breakdown: Brandon Knight is a complicated and somewhat controversial figure in current Bucks history thanks to the trade that sent him from Milwaukee, but in a historical sense he’s just another in a long ling of talented Bucks point guards.

Knight had a tremendous season and a half long stint in Milwaukee, and just missed out on being an All-Star in 2015. He led the Bucks to a 30-23 record by the break, and then due to a combination of factors, one of which certainly was his absence, the Bucks went 11-18 to finish the season at exactly .500. Clearly, Milwaukee lost steam in the latter part of the season.

However that trade ends up working out for Milwaukee, it’s impossible to ignore Knight’s impact on the franchise in the time he was with the Bucks. Although he never made an All-Star team or led Milwaukee in win shares, Brandon Knight was very influential on the Bucks in his time with the team.

Next: Number 21

21. Brandon Jennings – The Pterodactyl

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 17.0/3.4/5.7/1.5/0.2 on 39.4/35.4/81.3

The Accolades: Drafted 10th overall by the Bucks in 2009. Coined Win in 6, which will never die as long as the internet remains. Top 15 in franchise history in assists and steals recorded, top 20 in points scored.

The Breakdown: Brandon Jennings unfortunately did not actually beat the Miami Heat in six games in 2013, but he sure did try. That might be the best description possible of Jennings–he always tried, but the results weren’t always great.

Jennings did score 55 points in a game in his rookie season and clearly could score the ball when necessary based on his high points per game total. But as evidenced by his field goal percentage being under 40, Jennings wasn’t really the most efficient scorer out there.

The Bucks made the playoffs twice in Jennings’ tenure, but exited in the first round both times. Jennings was pretty great in the first round in 2010, his rookie season, when Milwaukee took on the Hawks. The Bucks managed to push that series to seven games in part thanks to Jennings scoring nearly 19 points per game, but came up short. He sure did try, though.

Next: Number 20

20. Bob Lanier – Dobber

The Stats: Five seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.5/5.9/2.7/1.0/0.9 on 54.1/25.0/73.6.

The Accolades: In the Basketball Hall of Fame. Chosen as an All-Star in 1982. The Bucks retired Lanier’s #16 jersey.

The Breakdown: Bob Lanier is one of the best 10 Detroit Pistons of all time, but the same cannot be said for his time in Milwaukee. Lanier was still effective with the Milwaukee Bucks, but clearly did not enjoy the same individual level of success with the Bucks. Some things never change though, and for Lanier that meant his defense.

Although his scoring and rebounding had largely fallen off by the time Lanier reached Milwaukee, he was still a mean, nasty defensive anchor. Lanier started for essentially his entire tenure with the Bucks, and was very effective on the defensive end until his very last game.

Lanier spent four years as a full-time starter in Milwaukee, and the Bucks won 50 games each of those years. Sure, some other Bucks legends had a lot to do with those wins. But Lanier did too, even if he wasn’t quite the player he was on the Bad Boys.

Next: Number 19

19. Quinn Buckner – Milwaukee’s Greatest Thief

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 10.3/5.2/3.3/2.3/0.1 on 46.9/26.9/66.0.

The Accolades: Drafted 7th overall by Milwaukee in 1976. 20th all-time in points, fourth all-time in assists, and first all-time in steals among all Bucks.

The Breakdown: Quinn Buckner is another great Bucks point guard. Some of the individual lead guards to play in Milwaukee have suffered from the incredible historical depth the Bucks have at that position–it’s hard to remember all these point guards over the nearly half a century the Bucks have been around!

Buckner is one that won’t be forgotten for quite a while though. He was running the show in 1981, Milwaukee’s only non-Kareem 60 win season. Although Buckner split much of the ball-handling duties with Marques Johnson, he still led that team in assists per game and provided a valuable defensive presence.

Buckner was a pesky defender for his entire tenure with the Bucks, and his place firmly atop the franchise steals leaderboard reflects that. Considering the closest active Buck is some 800 steals behind Buckner, that’s not likely to change anytime soon, cementing Buckner in Milwaukee’s history.

Next: Number 18

18. Alvin Robertson – The Second-Best Bucks Guard Named Robertson

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 12.7/5.3/5.0/2.7/0.3 on 47.3/31.4/74.2.

The Accolades: Led the NBA in steals per game in 1991 and in steal percentage in 1991, 1992 and 1993. Was an NBA All-Star in 1991. Voted on the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 1991 and the All-Defensive Second Team in 1990. Has the fourth-most recorded steals of any Buck in franchise history.

The Breakdown: Gary Payton may have been The Glove, but his time on the Bucks compared to Robertson’s makes him look more like The Mitten. Robertson was the real deal on defense, and caused problems for opposing guards on both sides of the ball, as evidenced by the near triple-double he dropped on Michael Jordan in 1990.

That playoff series was Robertson’s high point in Milwaukee. The Bulls were the better team, but Robertson made Jordan and company work for their eventual series win. Robertson averaged 23.5 points and 2.3 steals per game, leading the Bucks in both categories.

Robertson enjoyed even more success on the San Antonio Spurs before coming to Milwaukee, but he had a great run in both cities. He was a true defensive terror, and the rest of the NBA recognized him for it. There are several defensive standouts in Milwaukee’s storied history, and Robertson certainly belongs next to some of the higher-profile names on this list.

Next: Number 17

17. Andrew Bogut – The Awesome Australian

The Stats: Seven seasons played in Milwaukee. 12.7/9.3/2.3/0.7/1.6 on 52.2/04.5/57.4.

The Accolades: Drafted first overall by the Bucks in 2005. Led the NBA in blocks per game in 2011. Third all-time among Bucks in blocks, fourth all-time in rebounds, 17th all-time in points scored. Led the Bucks in win shares in 2010 and 2011.

The Breakdown: Andrew Bogut is never going to be the best player on a championship team, but as far as defensive-first, tough centers go it’s hard to do much better. Bogut spent seven years with the Bucks, and unfortunately the team only made the playoffs twice in that stretch.

Postseason success is not what defines Bogut’s time with Milwaukee, though. He was tremendous when he was healthy on the Bucks, and his place on Milwaukee’s points, rebounds and blocks speak to that. He may not have been good enough to guarantee the Bucks would make the playoffs, but Bogut was extremely good at his specialty–defense.

Bogut never really lived up to a lot of Bucks fans expectations for him seeing as he was a first overall pick, but that’s not really on Andrew Bogut. He certainly cannot be called a bust–anytime you draft a player that places in the top five of two stat categories, it’s hard to call that a bad pick.

Next: Number 16

16. Sam Cassell – Sam I Am

The Stats: Five seasons played in Milwaukee. 19.0/4.0/7.2/1.2/0.1 on 46.8/33.5/86.6.

The Accolades: 10th in points per game and 4th in assists per game among all Bucks. 18th overall in total steals, 14th in points scored and fourth in total assists among all Bucks. Led the 2003 Bucks in win shares.

The Breakdown: Sam Cassell might find his way into these sort of lists for a few different teams. Cassell played at least solid basketball for seven of the eight teams he found himself on over the years, and always seemed to be around for big moments.

In Milwaukee’s case, that moment was the 2001 season, the first 50 win season and trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since Don Nelson was the Bucks coach. Cassell was one-third of Milwaukee’s own Big Three in the 2000s–he, Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson made quite a formidable trio.

Those three were unable to bring the Bucks their second title, but that doesn’t invalidate anything that they accomplished. Those George Karl-led Bucks teams were among the highest points in franchise history, and as such all three of Karl’s Big Three find themselves very high on any list of the greatest Milwaukee Bucks.

Next: Number 15

15. Ricky Pierce – Big Paper Daddy

The Stats: Eight seasons played in Milwaukee. 16.5/2.7/2.0/0.8/0.2 on 51.6/30.5/86.5.

The Accolades: Won NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1987 and 1990. Made the All-Star team in 1991 despite starting just two games all season. 11th all-time in points scored among all Bucks. Led the 1987 Bucks in win shares.

The Breakdown: Good teams have really good starting lineups. Great teams have great starting talent, and great guys off of the bench. Ricky Pierce helped keep the Bucks a great team throughout the late 1980s. Milwaukee never missed the playoffs with Pierce around, despite transitioning from Don Nelson to Del Harris about halfway through his Milwaukee tenure.

Pierce started just a tenth of his 460 games as a Buck, and that’s actually what makes him so great. He accepted and embraces his bench role, and was recognized for it, making an All-Star team once and winning Sixth Man of the Year twice in his time with the Bucks.

Although his stats don’t jump out thanks to his mere 26 minutes per game, the NBA community at the time obviously recognized Pierce’s greatness off of the bench. Bucks fans would be wise to do the same.

Next: Number 14

14. Brian Winters – The Smooth Shooter

The Stats: Eight seasons played in Milwaukee. 16.7/2.7/4.3/1.2/0.3 on 47.8/36.3/84.3.

The Accolades: Made the All-Star team in 1976 and 1978. Had his number 32 retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Breakdown: Part of the return haul the Bucks got when they traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Brian Winters was a great Buck for the late 1970s and early 1980s. Of course Winters could never live up to Kareem (who could?), but he still played a part on some really good Bucks teams.

Milwaukee struggled for the first part of his Bucks tenure. Of course, it took a little while to properly get things moving again after moving the franchise cornerstone. But by 1980 the Don Nelson train was really rolling, and the Bucks would make the playoffs 12 straight years.

Of course Winters wasn’t around for all of them–he retired in 1983–but through his strong scoring performances and determination the Bucks were able to regroup after losing one of the greatest players ever and become great again themselves. Not all of that is due to Winters, but he certainly deserves some credit for his role in the Bucks staying relevant in the 1970s.

Next: Number 13

13. Michael Redd – Redd Hot

The Stats: 11 seasons played in Milwaukee. 20.0/4.0/2.3/1.0/0.1 on 44.9/38.3/84.0.

The Accolades: Drafted 43rd overall in 2000 by the Bucks. Holds the highest single game scoring performance in Bucks history. Made the 2004 All-Star team. Fourth all-time in points scored, 15th in rebounds, 20th in assists and 12th in steals in Milwaukee’s history. Led the Bucks in win shares in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The Breakdown: Michael Redd may have never won much as a starter in Milwaukee, but he sure gave the franchise a lot outside of wins and losses. A dominant scorer who also managed to grind his way up near the top in three other stat categories thanks to the 11 years he spent in Milwaukee, Redd made sure to put on a show for Bucks fans for a solid decade.

From 2003 until 2009 Redd scored at least 15 points per game, despite not becoming a full-time starter until 2004. Redd had a bit of beginner’s luck in his first season starting, as he managed to make the 2004 All-Star team. That would be his only appearance, although his 2006 campaign was really his finest in the NBA.

Redd played just one season outside of Milwaukee, his final year with Phoenix. He’ll always be remembered as a Buck, and indeed got a standing ovation in his last game in Milwaukee with the Suns. He may not have much postseason success to hang his hat on, but Redd has everything else–statistics, longevity and renown.

Next: Number 12

12. Paul Pressey – The First Point Forward

The Stats: Eight seasons played in Milwaukee. 11.9/4.3/5.6/1.5/0.6 on 49.0/21.9/74.5.

The Accolades: Drafted 20th overall by the Bucks in 1982. 13th in points scored, 14th in rebounds, second in steals and first among all Bucks in assists.

The Breakdown: Paul Pressey may not have coined the term point forward, but he certainly was one. Slightly ironically considering the wealth of great point guards in Milwaukee’s history, Pressey is the Bucks all-time leader in assists. He never had a Milwaukee season with less than 200 of them.

Of course he was more than just a passer, ranking in the top 15 all-time in points and rebounds and second to only Quinn Buckner in total steals for the Bucks. Pressey was all over the court in his near-decade spent in Milwaukee, and the results speak to his effectiveness.

Pressey’s Milwaukee tenure coincides with the exact middle of the team’s 12 consecutive playoff appearances, meaning that each season Pressey was on the Bucks they made the playoffs. Pressey was consistently good for Milwaukee both in the regular season and the playoffs for a very long time, earning him his spot in franchise history.

Next: Number 11

11. Junior Bridgeman – The Businessman

The Stats: Ten seasons played in Milwaukee. 13.9/3.7/2.5/0.9/0.3 on 47.5/18.7/84.0.

The Accolades: Most games played as a Buck. Seventh all-time in points scored, 13th all-time in rebounds and assists, 10th in steals. His number 2 is retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Breakdown: Bridgeman, the third player to come over from Los Angeles in the Kareem trade, had the best career of the bunch for the Bucks. Bridgeman was reliable, and leads all Bucks in games played. Bridgeman was a bench player for the entirety of his career, but he was a good one.

Bridgeman would probably have a few Sixth man of the Year awards to his name, had the award not been introduced as Bridgeman’s prime was coming to a close in 1983. Not that the lack of some award indicates anything about a player, but it would have been nice for Bridgeman to get some more recognition for his ultra-dependable play.

Despite getting just 26.8 minutes per game, averaged over 15 points from 1977 to 1984–his sophomore season through his last season before he left for the Clippers for a few years. Bridgeman then came back for a final season, which just feels right.

Next: Number 10

10. Terry Cummings – T.C.

The Stats: Six seasons played in Milwaukee. 19.4/7.8/2.3/1.3/0.7 on 48.4/29.0/70.2.

The Accolades: All-Star in 1985 and 1989. Made the All-NBA Second Team in 1985 and the Third Team in 1988. 10th all-time among Bucks in points, fifth in rebounds, 10th in steals and 13th in blocks.

The Breakdown: Terry Cummings put up incredible numbers for the Bucks between 1985 and 1989, his first and main tenure with the team. Cummings’ statistics as a Buck get watered down by his last year with the team–he averaged 21.7/8.3/2.6/1.4/0.8 on the Bucks in the 1980s.

Cummings was a dominant power forward in that stretch, and remains today one of the best true power forwards in Bucks history. T.C. showed up right at the end of the Don Nelson era and stuck around until about halfway through the Del Harris era, and like every Buck that played during the 1980s did not miss the playoffs at all during his main tenure.

When Cummings returned in a much lesser role in 1996, he and the Bucks did miss the postseason however. Despite that brief speck on an other-wise spotless basketball resume, Terry Cummings was fantastic for the entirety of his Milwaukee career. He brought it in the playoffs too, averaging 22/8.5/2.5 in the postseason with the Bucks.

Next: Number 9

9. Vin Baker – Shake N Bake

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 18.3/9.5/2.7/0.9/1.3 on 49.4/25.2/63.4.

The Accolades: Drafted 8th overall by the Bucks in 1993. All-Star in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1994, the All-NBA Second Team in 1998 and the Third Team in 1997. 15th among Bucks in total points, ninth in rebounds and eighth in blocks. Led the Bucks in win shares in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

The Breakdown: Vin Baker was the best power forward in Milwaukee Bucks history, and probably could have been one of the best of all time if his career hadn’t tragically derailed due to alcoholism. Baker was a phenomenal talent in his time with the Bucks–the fact that he still ranks in the top 10 in two stat categories despite playing just four seasons in Milwaukee is a testament to that.

Baker peaked with the Bucks in his last year with the team, 1997. He averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds that season on 50 percent field goal shooting. If he could’ve stayed in that form for a few seasons, Vin Baker would be remembered across the NBA today.

But unfortunately, that’s just not how it happened. And also unfortunately, Baker peaked in the worst era of Bucks basketball and never made it to the playoffs with the Bucks. Oh, what could have been. Even without considering any what if scenarios, Baker’s work in Milwaukee stands strong.

Next: Number 8

8. Jon McGlocklin – Johnny Mac

The Stats: Eight seasons played in Milwaukee. 12.6/2.4/3.2/0.5/0.1 on 50.5/00.0/86.0.

The Accolades: All-Star in 1969. Member of the first Bucks team, and a starter on Milwaukee’s 1971 championship team. Has his #14 retired by the Milwaukee Bucks. 12th in points scored and 11th in assists among all Bucks. Led the Bucks in win shares in 1969.

The Breakdown: Jon McGlocklin’s importance to the Milwaukee Bucks transcends statistics. Johnny Mac led the Bucks from the very beginning, and was the first Buck to ever make an All-Star team. He stayed with the team for as long as Larry Costello did until retiring in 1976.

McGlocklin’s longevity weighs down his statistics mightily. In his three-year prime, from his first season on the Bucks through the championship year, McGlocklin averaged 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Johnny Mac gracefully accepted a reserve role after that and stayed with the team after 1971, despite being a good enough starter for his team to win a title just a season earlier. Although eventually these young Bucks will push him farther and farther down the stat columns, there’s no chance Milwaukee will ever forget Jon McGlocklin and his contributions to the franchise.

Next: Number 7

7. Ray Allen – Ray-Ray

The Stats: Seven seasons played in Milwaukee. 19.6/4.6/3.8/1.3/0.2 on 45.0/40.6/87.9.

The Accolades: All-Star in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Olympic Gold Medalist in 2000. All-NBA Third Team in 2001, and All-Rookie Second Team in 1997. Ninth all-time in points scored among Bucks, 17th in rebounds, 12th in assists, eighth in steals, and first in three-point makes. Led the Bucks in win shares in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.

The Breakdown: Younger NBA fans may be more likely to associate Ray Allen with the Seattle SuperSonics, the Boston Celtics, or even the Miami Heat, but Allen spent more time and made more three-pointers with the Milwaukee Bucks than with any other franchise.

Allen was a crucial part of Milwaukee’s Big 3 in the early 2000s, and was likely the best player on Milwaukee’s 2001 Eastern Conference Finals trip. In his later years Allen became more of a shooter and nothing else, but he did it all in his Milwaukee days.

Allen was unfortunately dealt to the SuperSonics in 2003, otherwise there’s no telling where he would’ve ended up on this list. He clearly didn’t stop being great when he left Milwaukee, as evidenced by his 10 All-Star appearances and two championship rings. At least Bucks fans can take solace in the fact that he was great here first.

Next: Number 6

6. Oscar Robertson – The Big O

The Stats: Four seasons played in Milwaukee. 15.7/4.7/7.2/1.1/0.1 on 46.8/00.0/84.3.

The Accolades: All-Star in 1971 and 1972. Sixth all-time in assists in Bucks history, second all-time in assists per game. Made the All-NBA Second Team in 1971. Was the second-best player on the Bucks championship team in 1971. Has his #1 retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Breakdown: One of the greatest players across the history of the entire NBA, Bucks fans were lucky enough to get just four years of Oscar Robertson. The Big O is still one of the finest all-around players in Association history–he averaged a triple-double in 1962.

Of course that’s from his time away from the Bucks, but it’s not like Robertson didn’t accomplish much in Milwaukee. Although he was well over 30 years old when he arrived, Robertson was still a fantastic player. When paired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob Dandridge, it was inevitable that the Bucks would go all the way once, and that’s just what they did.

There can be no questions about how great Robertson was. The only reason he’s not even closer to the top of this particular list is that The Big O spent just four seasons in Milwaukee. If Robertson spent his entire career in Milwaukee, he would make a serious case for the top spot.

Next: Number 5

5. Bob Dandridge – The Greyhound

The Stats: Nine seasons played in Milwaukee. 18.6/7.3/3.2/1.5/0.5 on 48.7/00.0/77.0.

The Accolades: Drafted 45th overall by the Bucks in 1969. All-Star in 1973, 1975 and 1976. All-Rookie First Team in 1970. Was the third-best player on the Bucks championship team in 1971. Fifth among all Bucks in points scored, second in rebounds, eighth in assists and 14th in steals. Led the 1976 Bucks in win shares. Has his #10 retired by the Bucks.

The Breakdown: Bob Dandridge was part of Milwaukee’s original Big 3. Although not usually addressed as such, it’s hard to imagine media reaction if players the caliber of Dandridge, Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all joined up today. Oh, wait…

Anyway, Dandridge was an incredible player in his own right, despite being the third-best on Milwaukee’s 1971 title team. He and Robertson must have been an incredible tandem to watch, considering they both could shoot, rebound and pass like nobody’s business.

Dandridge would leave for the Washington Bullets a few years after Milwaukee’s championship and proceed to win one with the Bullets as well. The Greyhound would eventually return home, to retire with the Bucks in 1982. Much like Bridgeman’s return, it just felt right when Dandridge came back to retire in Milwaukee.

Next: Number 4

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

3. Glenn Robinson – Big Dog

The Stats: Eight seasons played in Milwaukee. 21.1/6.2/2.8/1.2/0.6 on 46.3/34.0/81.2.

The Accolades: Drafted first overall by the Bucks in 1994. All-Star in 2000 and 2001. Made the All-Rookie First Team in 1995. Second among all Bucks in points, sixth in rebounds, 16th in assists, seventh in steals, 12th in blocks. Second among all Bucks in points per game.

The Breakdown: Although Glenn Robinson never won a title, he was certainly one of the few players throughout NBA history to live up to the hype of being a first overall pick. Robinson did come very close to the NBA Finals as part of the Bucks famous Big 3 in 2001, but unfortunately fell just short.

In his eight-year career, Robinson piled up more points than every Buck who isn’t the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, which is impressive. Big Dog was the second-best scorer in Bucks history both by total volume and points per game–when Kareem came before, it’s essentially impossible to do any better than second place.

Robinson had an illustrious career that did result with him getting a ring later in life, but his time with Milwaukee was fulfilling enough even without one. The Big Dog will forever rest as one of the best scorers in Milwaukee Bucks history.

Next: Number 2

2. Sidney Moncrief – Sid the Squid

The Stats: Ten seasons played in Milwaukee. 16.7/5.0/3.9/1.3/0.3 on 50.3/27.6/83.2.

The Accolades: Drafted fifth overall by the Bucks in 1979. All-Star in 1982-86. Defensive Player of the Year in 1983 and 1984. Selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1983, the All-NBA Second Team in 1982 and from 1984-86, the All-Defensive First Team from 1983-86, and the All-Defensive Second Team in 1982. Led the Bucks in win shares from 1982-86. Has his #4 retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Breakdown: Sidney Moncrief is likely the most underrated player both in the Bucks community and the NBA community at large. Moncrief was a deadly threat on both ends–he claimed the first two Defensive MVPs to ever be awarded, and also scored 16 points per game on 50 percent shooting in his time with the Bucks.

Moncrief was the largest contributor to the best era in Bucks history. In his ten years in Milwaukee, the Bucks went to the Conference Semifinals six times, the Conference Finals three times, and lost in the first round just one time. The Bucks never missed the playoffs with Moncrief around.

It wasn’t just Bucks personalities that were impressed by Moncrief, however. Michael Jordan had this to say about him, according to NBA.com: “When you play against Moncrief, you’re in for a night of all-around basketball. He’ll hound you everywhere you go, both ends of the court. You just expect it.” That, coming from Air Jordan, just about sums up Sid the Squid.

Next: Number 1

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – The Greatest

The Stats: Six seasons played in Milwaukee. 30.4/15.3/4.3/1.2/3.4 on 54.7/00.0/69.5.

The Accolades: Drafted first overall by the Bucks in 1969. All-Star for his entire Bucks tenure, from 1970-75. Voted Most Valuable Player in 1972, 1972, and 1974. Selected for the All-NBA Second Team in 1970, the All-NBA First Team from 1971-74, the All-Defensive Second Team in 1970-71 and the All-Defensive First Team in 1974-75. Voted Rookie of the Year in 1970. Led the NBA in scoring in 1971 and 1972, and in blocks in 1975. Was the best player and Finals MVP on Milwaukee’s 1971 championship team. First among all Bucks in points scored and in rebounds, seventh in assists, and fifth in blocks. Leads all Bucks in points and rebounds per game. Led the Bucks in win shares from 1970-75. Has his #33 retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Breakdown: There’s only one acceptable option when considering the greatest Milwaukee Buck of all-time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated the entire NBA in his six seasons with the Bucks, and left his name atop both the total points and rebounds categories as well as leaving Milwaukee’s its lone championship trophy.

More from Behind the Buck Pass

Kareem’s greatness is hard to quantify, but this might help put it into perspective. Kareem is fifth all-time among Bucks in total blocks. Out of his six seasons, blocks were only counted in two of them. It took Kareem just two seasons to tally nearly 500 blocks.

Of course his scoring and rebounding feats are just as obscene, but does any more really need to be said about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? According to legacy, statistics, and rings Kareem reigns supreme. Bucks fans can only hope that one day someone poses a real challenge to Kareem’s spot on this list.

Ti Windisch