Milwaukee Bucks: What It Means To Have An All-Star Again

Watching Giannis Antetokounmpo take in the sights and sounds of All-Star weekend is unfamiliar territory for fans of the Milwaukee Bucks, and breathtaking for them because they’re not used to seeing it.

There have been 17 All-Stars in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history before this season. This list includes greats like Jon McGlocklin, Marques Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Ray Allen. In 2017, the list grew one name longer with the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Voted in as a starter by a combination of fans, players, and media, Giannis became the first All-Star for the Bucks since Michael Redd in 2004, and the first starter since Sidney Moncrief in 1986. It has been a sizable time period since the Bucks were last represented in the NBA All-Star game, and a lot has happened since then.

The 2003-04 season was a pivot point for the Bucks franchise. They had won 42 games the previous season, and were making a playoff push during the season. As previously mentioned, Michael Redd had been selected as an All-Star by the coaches (not be the fans, no player in Milwaukee could do that.)

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After not winning a playoff series since 2001, the Bucks were ready to turn the corner in their franchise, and start a new era of winning basketball. However, that did not necessarily go according to plan.

After losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2004, the Bucks won only 30 games the next season, and found themselves in the lottery. In fact, since the 2003-04 season, the Milwaukee Bucks have only made the playoffs four times, and have had only one winning season.

Even in seasons where they made the playoffs, a series was never won by the Bucks. Six coaches have taken the helm of the team since 2004, and in a league where consistency wins, the Bucks could never find a core to rebuild with. However, that may be because they never wanted to.

When a team consistently ranks in the bottom-ten in the league for ticket sales and attendance, it’s hard to structure a full rebuild without losing your entire fan base. Being one of the smallest markets in the league, Milwaukee’s franchise felt it needed to compete every season.

Constantly making moves for veteran players who could push them into the seventh or eighth seed in the playoffs, the Bucks were hoping to rejuvenate the idea of competitive basketball in Milwaukee. By not focusing on building a young nucleus of talent, the Bucks were destined to always barely stay afloat.

While other teams were building championship contenders from the ground-up, the Bucks were desperately trying to sell low on entertainment value, and that is very difficult to do without an All-Star.

Without any player to put your franchise on the map, a team struggles. The evidence of that is the past 12 years of Bucks basketball. No one in sports media would want to talk about the Bucks, nor would any big-name free agents consider signing with the Bucks. A star is how franchises are built in the NBA these days, and a representative in the All-Star game is just the way to show the world you have a star.

With even the most casual of NBA fans taking in every moment of All-Star weekend, it’s easy to see how an All-Star can help a team. Facing the national media, a player can talk about his team and fans all around the world can get exposure to a team that they would not necessarily get during the regular season. The ASG is a massive marketing opportunity for a franchise, and it proves that they are a team that needs to be taken seriously.

Looking at the teams that do not have a player in the All-Star game this year, it is even clearer that All-Stars are important. The Nets, 76ers, Pistons, Heat, Magic, Lakers, Suns, Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves and Nuggets are the teams without an All-Star this year.

This group of teams is a combined 160 games under 0.500, and only the Pistons and Nuggets are currently in the playoff picture (both eighth seeds). Having an All-Star means you have a player that can be recognized among the NBA’s best, which (usually) sets a team up to start to contend.

Not having an All-Star means that your team probably doesn’t have the star power to compete with the top teams in the conference. This exact idea is what doomed to the Bucks to sit in the middle to lower part of the Eastern Conference for more than a decade.

Sep 29, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks players — Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

As the Milwaukee Bucks are starting to build themselves into a championship contender, having Giannis Antetokounmpo in the All-Star game is one of the greatest moments in franchise history.

Since the team was sold and a complete re-brand was done, the Bucks have been searching for a way to showcase on the big stage, and February 19, 2017 is the perfect way to do so.

It is no secret that Giannis has determined the course for this team. Even though Jabari Parker was supposed to be the cornerstone, the Greek Freak has shown that he is worthy of an honor only the NBA’s best receive. Having Giannis as an All-Star does not means he is only playing in the game, though.

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Giannis’s face is currently plastered all over New Orleans. As was previously mentioned, just having Giannis being seen by the casual fan is great for the team. Even though national media has started to showcase Antetokounmpo, Giannis is still an unknown to a sizable majority of NBA viewers. Seeing Giannis catch lobs from LeBron James (hopefully) would put him on the map, as long as the city of Milwaukee.

Seeing Giannis wear “Milwaukee” across his chest means a lot for the city. For a community that hasn’t seen a basketball player represent them to the world for a long time, Giannis is a superhero. When walking the streets of Brew City, more and more people are wearing Bucks gear and talking about their team. The Bucks rise can be mostly attributed to Giannis, as he creates highlights that get shared, and get people excited to come to games.

Since 2004, the Milwaukee Bucks have been sentenced to remain in the doldrums of the NBA. Without a clear direction of development, the Bucks spent a lot of time in mediocrity.

Next: 5 Predictions For Giannis In The All-Star Game

However, with Giannis Antetokounmpo finally representing Milwaukee in the All-Star game, the franchise can finally see the fruits of their labor start to appear. This is not just a game, it the setting of the catapult to send the Giannis into superstardom and the franchise into contention.