Milwaukee Bucks: The NBA 2K18 all-time snub team
By Ben Sewell
Bench: Alton Lister (1981 – 86, 1994 – 1996)
Position – Center
Statistics – 7.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.7 blocks per game
Bucks Records – 10th in total rebounds, 1st in blocks.
Alton Lister’s contribution to Milwaukee is best highlighted when statistics are taken off the board. Although he did finish his career as the all-time leader for blocks and the 10th best rebounder in franchise history, Lister’s value to the side cannot be measured in any box score.
In 1983, he finished 15th in MVP voting, receiving five votes. Of the 23 players who received votes that year, Lister was the only player to average below 15 points per game. As it was, he finished with 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Rather mediocre numbers by anyone’s standards, let alone someone in actual MVP consideration.
Lister’s sheer ability to impact plays and stop them before they began was his largest asset to his team. Lister was such a presence on the defensive end, altering countless plays per game, which do not appear on the box score. You also cannot sleep on Listers ability as a pure rim protector, as Lister currently sits first overall with the most blocks in franchise history.
Lister also finished his career in Milwaukee sitting seventh overall in all time defensive win shares and defensive rating. Lister is truly one of the greatest Milwaukee centers of all time and is a clear snub from this side, likely due to a statistical bias which just doesn’t reflect his impact on teams during his time in Milwaukee.