The Milwaukee Bucks have been lucky to have some great uniforms down the years, but which are their five best jerseys of all-time?
More than just material and colors, jerseys mean a lot, not just in the NBA, but throughout the world of sport.
They allow fans to identify with their heroes, represent their cities and tell people something about who they are. As such, the jersey is one of the most important features of NBA culture.
Over the years, Milwaukee Bucks fans have been blessed with some truly beautiful designs. That’s not to say they were all home runs either though.
More from Bucks History
- The 3 biggest “What Ifs” in Milwaukee Bucks’ franchise history
- 6 Underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era
- Ranking Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 10 best Bucks teammates of all time
- How well do you know the Milwaukee Bucks’ top 20 career point leaders?
- Looking at important playoff numbers in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history
The Bucks have had more variety to their uniform designs, color schemes and fonts than most NBA teams, and more often than not that has originated from the franchise’s effort to make a bold statement.
Bucks fans have seen their favorite stars wear it all over the decades. From understated white to eye-popping purple, from rainbows to angry deer.
Among all of Milwaukee’s various jersey entries over the years, which have been the best though?
I decided to rank my five favorites and explain why they should be considered among the best.
Next: The New School
5. 2015-16 to ? (Home Jersey)
When the Bucks set about their latest rebrand prior to the 2015-16 season, they faced a major challenge. The white, green and red uniform set that the team had adorned for the previous eight seasons were far from exciting, and whether it was a product of much of the mediocre play seen in Milwaukee’s time wearing them or not, they always seemed a little generic.
With a fun young team on the rise, it was time to bring the Bucks’ style back to the forefront. The resulting uniform set was praised by design experts and fans alike, as the team’s new look comprised of classic elements from past designs, clear visual nods to the geographical features of Wisconsin and a bold new modern twist.
The bold, blocky font is sharp enough to be modern, but still resembles the kind of type face that was seen on some of the team’s best jerseys of yesteryear.
The addition of cream elements added something not being done by other teams around the league, while also playing on Milwaukee’s Cream City heritage.
Perhaps most important to the fans was the return of the “Irish Rainbow” style panels on the side. In this iteration, the primary green and cream are complemented by an accent of blue meant to represent Lake Michigan.
Rebrands are never easy, but the Bucks nailed this one.
Next: A Burst Of Color
4. 1976-77 to 1977-78 (Road Jersey)
The reason the return of the layered side panels that are most often associated with the green and white “Irish Rainbow” was so popular, is likely because that style of panelling was a key feature of a number of the team’s jerseys from the mid 70’s through to the early 90’s.
In a period when that was certainly the bedrock feature of Bucks’ jersey design, the team did very little wrong when it came to their uniform.
Jerseys from that timeframe likely look even better in hindsight as they have become something of a reflection of the most consistently successful stretch since the foundation of the franchise in 1969.
This particular entry was technically short-lived, as although the color scheme and core of the design stayed the same in the next entry that lasted for seven years, the font changed to a smaller, more rounded lettering.
Perhaps, it’s just a matter of taste, but for me the bolder, slightly harsher type face used on this entry feels more in keeping with the vibrancy provided by the multi-toned green hues under the arms.
Next: The Angry Deer
3. 1995-96 to 1998-99 (Alternate Jersey)
Bold, brash and bordering on the downright absurd, Milwaukee’s alternates from the late 90’s have developed into something of a cult classic.
Although the purple era is certainly a divisive one in the annals of Bucks jersey history, the audacity of the “Deer” jersey captures everything that was thought to be cutting edge as the turn of the century approached.
The green has a strange metallic tone to it, that depending on the light, allows it to look either soft or harsh.
The purple makes for a fun accent (just as it did on the white home jerseys at this time), without overpowering the viewer and distracting them from the action when a game is in full flow.
Then there’s the deer itself. Nurturing a burning intensity in its eyes and an uncomfortably curved neck, this Buck looks a little monstrous. It means business.
Although this is certainly among the most garish jerseys of Milwaukee’s history, it’s got a charm to it. It has what would have been seen as a modern or futuristic feel to it at that time, and it’s very much of it’s era. Perhaps more importantly than anything else though, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before or the NBA likely will again.
The jersey made a brief comeback as a Hardwood Classic in 2013, and hopefully we’ll get to see it again at some point in the future.
Next: Home At The End Of The Rainbow
2. 1976-77 to 1977-78 (Home Jersey)
Following on from the inclusion of the road jersey earlier on, the home jersey slots in right near the top of these rankings thanks to how well the colors from the rainbow pop out when offset by Milwaukee’s traditionally neutral white home colors.
Throughout NBA history there are endless examples of white jerseys that end up looking nothing more than bland or washed out, but that just wasn’t the case with Milwaukee’s uniforms in this period of time.
Many would understandably argue for the inclusion of the true “Irish Rainbow” white and green home jersey that was introduced in 1986 here, but in this case I feel the red numbering and trim offers just that extra bit of punch that makes the whole design tie together.
As was mentioned earlier, the bolder font looks like a more natural fit with this design too, compared to the more understated and flat bubble text that proceeded it.
This particular uniform arrived at a time of transition for the team, and appropriately it stated the bold intentions of a team who would be one of the league’s very best in the coming decade.
Next: The Original, The Best
1. 1968-69 to 1972-73 (Road)
The jersey that made history. In both the home and road versions of these jerseys, the Milwaukee Bucks not only came into existence, but secured the franchise’s one and only championship success.
That gives a clear sentimental reasoning for why it would rank at the peak of Bucks jerseys, but the design itself should not be slept on.
When you stop and think about some of the best, most classic jerseys in the entire history of the NBA, a theme of simplicity likely prevails.
The likes of the Celtics, Lakers and Bulls have made only minimal tweaks to their jerseys and their color schemes down the years, as without overcomplicating things they were already the owners of a timeless look.
The first road jerseys in Bucks’ history have that same feel and offer proof that if managed properly, the green and red combo can provide a nice, clean aesthetic.
The white numbering with the red accent is very crisp, and that carries over into the accompanying shorts that also include the criminally underrated, friendly Bango logo.
Next: The 50 Greatest Players in Milwaukee Bucks History
Milwaukee’s original jerseys may not have reinvented the wheel when it came to NBA uniforms, but when they look that good to begin with why would you do something different?