Milwaukee Bucks: The 1968 NBA Expansion Draft

The Milwaukee Bucks first team was largely built through the 1968 NBA Expansion Draft, the fourth-such draft in NBA history.

The 1968 NBA Expansion Draft was the fourth of 11 such drafts throughout NBA history, but it’s the only one Milwaukee Bucks fans should be especially concerned with. The Bucks created their first roster largely through that expansion draft.

The Bucks and Suns were the two new teams welcomed into the NBA, and thus the ones who got to poach existing players who weren’t one of the seven protected by each team. The format was a little unusual–the teams participated in three six-pick rounds, and after each round the existing teams were allowed to protect one more player.

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem as though the actual pick-by-pick record of the draft is around, although every pick made by both teams is easy enough to find. We do know that Phoenix got to go first, although that didn’t prevent the Bucks from getting some quality players that went unprotected by teams.

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

Milwaukee got three former All-Stars in the expansion draft, including Wayne Embry, Guy Rodgers and Len Chappell. All three were closer to the end of their careers than to their All-Star days when they were picked by Milwaukee, but they all played pretty well with the Bucks.

Former first overall pick Fred Hetzel was also selected, but he was more of an Anthony Bennett first overall pick than a Karl-Anthony Towns first overall pick.

There was actually another former All-Star selected by the Bucks during the 1968 NBA Expansion Draft, but the pick didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Larry Costello retired from the NBA in early 1968. He agreed to coach the expansion Bucks on April 3, 1968. Milwaukee then, amazingly, drafted him on May 6th, 1968.

So after he both retired and signed on with the Bucks as their head coach, Milwaukee decided to draft Costello anyway. Alright then. The six-time All-Star had some great days in the NBA, but it’s hard to imagine there weren’t better options available. Like, you know, actual NBA players.

Anyway, the best pick Milwaukee made wasn’t one that was highly regarded at the time. Likely not one of their top picks, the Bucks also added Jon McGlocklin to their roster. Despite him not having much acclaim at the time, Jonny Mac was clearly the best pick Milwaukee made.

Ten of the Bucks taken in the expansion draft played at least part of one season with the team. Five of them made it to 1969, and three to 1970. After that point, only McGlocklin stuck around, until he retired from the NBA in 1976.

More from Behind the Buck Pass

• Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
• Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
• Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
• Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
• New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited

Jonny Mac was the only Buck taken in the expansion draft to still be around when Milwaukee won their only title in 1971. He was also the first Buck to ever get an All-Star nod. McGlocklin may not have been in Milwaukee’s big three during that title run, but he was instrumental to the team’s early success and has stuck around Milwaukee ever since.

Honestly, he was one of the only good picks the Bucks made in the 1968 NBA Expansion Draft. It’s tough to find good players outside of the ones protected by their teams, but only getting one guy that lasted more than three years on the team is a pretty poor showing.

Maybe it was for the best that Milwaukee didn’t get many steals here. After all, selecting Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) in the 1969 NBA Draft was what made the Bucks a force in the early 1970s.

Next: The Coin Flip That Brought Kareem To Milwaukee

If Milwaukee had gotten too good through this expansion draft, they might’ve missed out on Kareem. So we won’t hold it against the early Bucks front office too much, even though they used a pick on somebody they’d already hired as head coach.