Behind the Bucks Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks: 49 years in 49 days – 2014-15 season

By Ti Windisch

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 27: Brandon Knight #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against the Miami Heat on January 27, 2015 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 27: Brandon Knight #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against the Miami Heat on January 27, 2015 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks went from worst in the NBA to a playoff team rather quickly during the 2014-15 season.

The season: 2014-15

The record: 41-41

The postseason: 2-4, lost in first round

The story:

The Milwaukee Bucks were sold before the start of the 2014-15 NBA season. That sale brought another huge change, as Larry Drew was unceremoniously let go so the Bucks could acquire Jason Kidd from the Brooklyn Nets.

More from Bucks History

Even with those big changes, Milwaukee’s roster did not change in a massive way during the summer of 2014. The biggest addition was Jabari Parker, who the Bucks took second overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Jerryd Bayless and Jared Dudley were both acquired that summer, and the team claimed Kendall Marshall on waivers. Additionally, two Bucks fan deep cut second round picks, Johnny O’Bryant and Damien Inglis, were selected on draft day as well.

Anyone following Milwaukee’s summer would not expect it to significantly impact a 15-win team. Jabari was a big-time draft pick, but rookies generally don’t help teams all that much. The rest of the Bucks’ additions were essentially role players.

Still, something about that team just worked. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton played more than any other Bucks that season, and both of them were getting pretty damn good. Neither were getting All-Star consideration or anything like that, but Giannis put up 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while Middleton managed 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting more than 40 percent from three-point range.

Tragedy struck when the third member of the Bucks’ young big three, Jabari Parker, tore his ACL 25 games into the season. Ersan Ilyasova and Jared Dudley were able to step in and make a lot of spot starts that season, thankfully for Milwaukee’s rotation’s sake.

Zaza Pachulia, too, started a lot of games due to Larry Sanders‘ sudden departure from both the team and the league. In theory, this patchwork and banged up team should have won another 15 or so games.

Instead they went an even .500 due to one player more than any other. Brandon Knight led the Bucks in scoring and was easily the team’s best player that season. Knight put up 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals in a campaign that should’ve gotten him an All-Star nod.

With Knight, Milwaukee went 29-23. The reason he played just 52 games with the Bucks that season was not due to the injuries that have plagued him since that year, but instead because of a trade the team made involving him on deadline day.

More from Behind the Buck Pass

The Bucks sent out Knight in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee. There is a lot of reading that can be done on that trade if you so desire. Regardless of your position on the deal, there can be no debate on the ramifications it had on both that season and the next couple in Milwaukee.

Immediately the Bucks were worse off, especially due to Carter-Williams being injured when Milwaukee acquired him. The team limped into the postseason after the All-Star break, going 18-23 the rest of the way and ending up with the sixth seed and a first round matchup with the Chicago Bulls.

The series seemed like it was over after three games. Chicago was up 3-0 on the Bucks, and a sweep seemed probable. Then, somehow some way, Milwaukee pulled of an incredible last-play victory in Game 4 and breathed some life back into its season.

Milwaukee rode that momentum to a Game 5 victory in Chicago that saw MCW and Middleton combine for 43 points in a massive win. From 0-3 to 2-3, the Bucks now had a chance in the series.

Or so it seemed. One of the top anti-climatic moments of Milwaukee Bucks history occurred in Game 6 at home. Giannis decked Mike Dunleavy in a chippy game that quickly spiraled out of control, ultimately resulting in a 54-point Chicago victory. Yes, really.

Next: 49 years in 49 days: 2013-14 season

That loss was embarrassing and sad but things had to be on the upswing for the Bucks after so many improvements from their young players, right?

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