With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton set for the All-Star Game in Charlotte, let’s take a look at the Milwaukee Bucks’ complete All-Star history.
(Editor’s note: This is an update of an article originally published on February 19, 2017)
When Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton take to the court on Sunday night in Charlotte, it will mark the first time the Milwaukee Bucks have had two players in the All-Star Game since Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson teamed up in 2001 in Washington, D.C.
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
In just the second year of the captain system being in place, Antetokounmpo will become the first Bucks’ player to captain an All-Star team. In just his third appearance in the event, and having been the first pick of the 2018 All-Star draft, these are still the very early stages of what will be an inevitably long and illustrious All-Star résumé for the Greek.
As for his teammate, after multiple near-misses, Middleton will finally make his bow in the NBA’s showcase game. With the 2019 game being staged in the NBA city closest to his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, Middleton will be undoubtedly eager to make a lasting impression.
The Bucks’ participation in the 2019 All-Star Game also extends to the bench, where an NBA-best record of 43-14 has afforded Mike Budenholzer and his staff the honor of coaching Team Giannis on Sunday night.
Of course, all of this only adds to the franchise’s already rich All-Star history over the course of 51 years. Ahead of the latest staging of the big game, it’s certainly a history worth revisiting.
Which Bucks have made the most All-Star appearances in years past? Who has performed the best of all Milwaukee’s players on one of the biggest stages the NBA can offer? And who was criminally overlooked and deserving of more All-Star selections throughout the course of their careers?
Taking a look at all of this and more, let’s unpack the complete All-Star history of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jon McGlocklin (1969)
In many ways one of the defining faces and voices of Milwaukee Bucks history, it was certainly fitting that Jon McGlocklin was the man with the privilege of being the franchise’s first ever All-Star.
A solid role player during his time with the Cincinnati Royals and San Diego Rockets, Jonny Mac was able to truly elevate his play upon arriving in Milwaukee. McGlocklin spent the eight best years of his playing career with the Bucks, but no year was better than his 1968-69 season when he earned his sole All-Star appearance.
Averaging 19.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for that season, McGlocklin took his place on a star-studded Eastern Conference team for the 1969 game in Louisville. Playing alongside the likes of Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek, Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld, Jonny Mac played just seven minutes in total on the night.
Having shot 1-of-2 from the field, McGlocklin’s All-Star career concluded with two points and a rebound in the league’s showcase game.
Flynn Robinson (1970)
A major acquisition when he was signed midway through Milwaukee’s first season in existence, Flynn Robinson wouldn’t spend a long time with the Bucks in his career, but he certainly left his mark.
A fast and fluid scoring guard, Robinson amassed points with ease throughout the prime years of his career, but in his best season in Milwaukee he did so while also creating plenty of opportunities for teammates too.
Averaging 21.8 points and 5.5 assists per game for the 1969-70, Robinson earned his one and only All-Star selection for the game in Indianapolis in that year. While the likes of Robertson, Havlicek, Willis Reed and Billy Cunningham all had significant scoring nights as starters, Robinson was mostly consigned to the bench.
Still, in a very limited eight minutes of action, Robinson managed to score six points on 3-of-4 from the field, while also dishing out two assists and grabbing a rebound.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75)
The greatest player in Bucks history, and a player who arguably has a case for being the greatest player of all-time, Captain Skyhook rarely had any difficulty in making his way to the All-Star game.
Although the highlights of Kareem’s six years in Milwaukee were undoubtedly winning a championship in 1971 and making the Finals again in 1974, he did also get selected to the All-Star Game in every season he played with the franchise.
That trend extended beyond Milwaukee to Los Angeles, where alongside his six career championships, Kareem also worked toward amassing a record 19 All-Star selections.
For his time in Milwaukee, Kareem’s six All-Star appearances yielded averages of 12.4 points, 10 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Oscar Robertson (1971, ’72)
Much like Abdul-Jabbar, making the All-Star game was a common occurrence for Oscar Robertson throughout a long and remarkable career. In total, The Big O played in 12 All-Star games, all of which occurred consecutively from his rookie season in 1961 through to 1972.
Although it was the latter days of his career when Robertson arrived in Milwaukee, that didn’t prevent him from making stellar contributions to those Bucks teams, and earning two of his multitude of selections while wearing the green of Milwaukee.
Robertson was often one of the most dominant players on the floor in what was essentially an exhibition game, as he’d impart his will and incredible skill on all of those around him. That’s best illustrated by the fact that Robertson was a three-time All-Star game MVP.
For his time in Milwaukee, The Big O averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24 minutes of All-Star action per game.
Bob Dandridge (1973, ’75, ’76)
Often the forgotten third star of Milwaukee’s great teams in the 70s, Dandridge was one of the very best players in the NBA even if his status alongside teammates like Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson led to him being overlooked in a league-wide context.
In nine total seasons with the Bucks, Dandridge personified everything that the identity of those Milwaukee teams was designed to speak for. The fact that he averaged over 18 points and seven rebounds per game over the entirety of his years as a Buck acts as a testament to that.
For all of his years of potentially All-Star worthy play in Milwaukee, Dandridge was selected for the big game just three times as a Buck. Making his appearances in Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Denver, Dandridge was never really in a leading role on those teams, but managed to put up solid numbers all the same.
As a Milwaukee All-Star, Dandridge averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Jim Price (1975)
Perhaps the most forgettable of all Bucks All-Stars having not spent a significant period of time with the franchise, and having played games elsewhere at the beginning of his only All-Star campaign, Jim Price earned his place at the All-Star game thanks to a career season in 1975.
Having been traded for key bench player and favorite of Kareem, Lucius Allen, Price arrived in Milwaukee with his cards already marked in a sense. He would go on to spend just a season-and-a-half with the Bucks, putting up solid but unspectacular averages of 12.6 points and 5.0 assists in that time.
An excellent start to the 1974-75 season while he was still a Laker played an important part in getting Price an All-Star berth though. With an overall average of 16.1 points, 5.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds, the Kentucky native took his place on the Western Conference team in San Antonio.
Price managed eight points on 3-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes of play. It turned out to be his only career All-Star appearance.
Brian Winters (1976, ’78)
An underrated sharpshooter for his eight years with the Bucks, Winters arrived in Milwaukee as a part of the trade that saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leave for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Just like many of the other pieces that the Bucks managed to acquire around that time, he became integral to the franchise’s continued success post-Kareem. Winters meshed perfectly with a variety of different types of players around him, always managing to balance his own abilities and individual stats up against his role within the team as a complementary player.
Winters twice managed to merit inclusion in the All-Star game by virtue of his Bucks performances, acting as one of Milwaukee’s two starters in Denver in 1976 and the franchise’s sole representative in Atlanta in 1978.
Between the two games, Winters averaged only 15 minutes of playing time, and five points, three rebounds and an assist to go with it.
Marques Johnson (1979, 1980, ’81, ’83)
The arrival of Marques Johnson in Milwaukee following the 1977 NBA Draft marked the start of a new era of contention for the Bucks, and a period that would be marked by four All-Star appearances for Johnson individually.
From the moment he was drafted, Johnson proved his worth to the Bucks as a high volume scorer and impressive rebounder, but he managed to build on those skills further as time progressed with a deft playmaking touch.
With averages of 21 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the entirety of his time in Milwaukee, Johnson could make a valid case that he could have had as many as three extra All-Star appearances too.
For the times he did make it to the All-Star game, Johnson averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists, having started twice.
Sidney Moncrief (1982, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86)
After Marques Johnson’s All-Star debut in 1979, the Bucks would have to wait three more years before they’d have their next All-Star debutant, Sidney Moncrief.
Sid the Squid would go on to make the team for five straight seasons from that time, during a period when he was also twice named Defensive Player of the Year. In 10 seasons as a Buck, Moncrief led the Bucks to the most consistent period of success in their history, even if a championship ultimately eluded them.
For his five year run of All-Star appearances, Moncrief never averaged less than 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds or 3.6 assists per game. That led to Moncrief twice being named a starter, and regularly having a significant impact on the game itself.
Moncrief averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals for his five All-Star game outings.
Bob Lanier (1982)
Similarly to Oscar Robertson, Bob Lanier came to Milwaukee as a perennial All-Star who, although he was approaching decline, was able to fortify an already good team in the hope of propelling them to something bigger.
Dobber was a key player for those Bucks teams from the moment he arrived from Detroit until the day he retired from basketball entirely, averaging 13.5 points and 5.9 rebounds during his four-and-a-half seasons as a Buck.
A seven-time All-Star as a Piston, that was enough to earn one more trip to All-Star weekend to Lanier as he joined Moncrief in New Jersey in 1982.
In just 11 minutes of action in that game, Lanier scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot.
Terry Cummings (1985, ’89)
Criminally underrated during a lengthy and consistent career befitting much more than his two All-Star appearances, Terry Cummings was comfortably one of the most important players of the 80s for Milwaukee.
Cummings averaged 19.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in his seven seasons as a Buck, including two seasons when he averaged over 20 points and seven rebounds, and still failed to garner All-Star recognition.
Regardless, there were two occasions when Cummings couldn’t be denied of his rightful spot. In 1985 in Indianapolis, Cummings exploded off the bench to register 17 points and seven rebounds in only 16 minutes of playing time. In 1989 in Houston, Cummings again offered a meaningful contribution off the bench.
Overall, Cummings averaged 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game of All-Star action.
Alvin Robertson (1991)
A three-time All-Star as a San Antonio Spur before he ever even arrived in Milwaukee, Alvin Robertson was an incredibly well-rounded basketball talent, who could and often did do a little bit of everything throughout a game.
Robertson gave the Bucks three very productive seasons in his late 20s, which unfortunately coincided with a time when the overall talent of the Bucks team was approaching a point where it was about to be as bad as it had been since the formation of the franchise.
Still, Robertson’s individual talent was enough to earn him one All-Star trip during that time. Robertson was a part of a star-studded East team that was led by Michael Jordan in his native North Carolina.
Robertson played 12 minutes in that game, scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds.
Ricky Pierce (1991)
Robertson was not the only talented Buck to play in the 1991 All-Star Game, as Ricky Pierce joined him. Like Robertson, Pierce had helped the Bucks to hold on to relevance at a time when the sense was that it was starting to slip away from the franchise.
Pierce was a deadeye shooter and a cold-hearted scorer who thrived coming off the bench in a Sixth Man role during his stay in Milwaukee. He did this so well that he finished his time as a Buck averaging 16.5 points per game in just 26.2 minutes of game time.
Pierce eventually got to an All-Star game having averaged 22.5 points per game in the 1990-91 season for Milwaukee, but would be traded to the Seattle Supersonics shortly after the All-Star game.
In the game itself, Pierce logged 19 minutes of action, scoring nine points, dishing out two assists and grabbing two rebounds.
Vin Baker (1995, ’96, ’97)
A legitimate star talent who was the focal point of a Bucks team that was unfortunately rooted firmly outside of the playoff standings for his four years with the franchise, Vin Baker put in exceptional performances in difficult surroundings during his time in Milwaukee.
Baker was a Buck for just four years after having been selected with the eighth overall pick of the 1993 NBA Draft, and would play well enough to make the All-Star team in all but his rookie season in Milwaukee.
Averaging a whopping 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds for his four seasons with the team, Baker represented the Bucks in the All-Star game for three straight years starting with the 1995 All-Star game in Phoenix.
Overall, Baker averaged 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds for his All-Star games as a Buck.
Glenn Robinson (2000, ’01)
A dominant presence for all eight seasons he played with the Bucks, Glenn Robinson was never adequately recognized for his overall standing in the league until his Milwaukee team managed to pass the 40-win mark on a season.
Having averaged an impressive 21.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for his Bucks career in total, Big Dog played a driving role in elevating Milwaukee from being an up-and-comer with potential to being a fully fledged contender.
The former first overall pick from the 1994 NBA Draft made his All-Star debut in 2000 in Oakland, and would go on to appear again the following year when the event was held in Washington D.C.
For those two games, Robinson averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game.
Ray Allen (2000, ’01, ’02)
By the time the Bucks were good enough for Glenn Robinson to make his breakthrough All-Star appearance, they were also good enough to have a second player join him in the form of standout shooting guard Ray Allen.
In six-and-a-half seasons as a Buck, Allen averaged 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while shooting 45 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three-point range.
Allen did a good job of gradually building up his production so that by the time he reached his fourth season, he was averaging over 22 points per game and All-Star worthy in his own right. Allen would make the All-Star team for three straight seasons from 2000 onward with that run only ending with the season he was traded to Seattle.
The former UConn Husky would play in 10 All-Star games in total, but for his three as a Buck he averaged 14.6 points, 3.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds.
Michael Redd (2004)
If there was any ray of light for the Bucks in the aftermath of the departure of their “Big Three”, it was that Michael Redd was at least waiting in the wings with the kind of talent needed to give the franchise any real hope of staying competitive.
In the end, it would turn out that poor decisions and misfortune combined to prevent the Bucks from ever building anything meaningful around Redd, but with an average of 20 points and four rebounds per game for his 11 seasons in Milwaukee, it’s hard to leave any responsibility at Redd’s feet for that.
On better teams it seems inevitable that Redd would have played in more All-Star games, but in reality he had to settle for just the one appearance. That experience came in 2004 in Los Angeles for the former Ohio State Buckeye.
For that single All-Star appearance, Redd scored 13 points to go along with three rebounds, three steals and two assists in 15 minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (2017, ’18, ’19)
As a starter in his All-Star debut in New Orleans in 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo ended a lengthy All-Star drought for the franchise, and set the bar higher than any Bucks player had ever previously managed in an All-Star Game before.
In spite of playing just 22 minutes, Antetokounmpo racked up an All-Star game franchise record of 30 points, leading the Eastern Conference’s team in scoring.
For good measure, the Greek Freak also added six rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block, while shooting 14-of-17 from the field.
Antetokounmpo’s follow up was impressive, too. In 2018, Antetokounmpo racked up 16 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes of action.
Heading into his third appearance in the game, the 24-year-old is a perfect 3-for-3 on starts, and now moves into a new class of his own as the East’s leading vote-getter and an All-Star captain.
It remains to be seen what Giannis has in store for NBA fans on Sunday night, but he’s already building a formidable All-Star legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
Khris Middleton (2019)
Middleton makes his All-Star debut in a season that arguably hasn’t been his best individually, but it’s been one where he’s been influential in helping the Bucks to be at their best as a team.
For Middleton, even making it to this point represents a Cinderella story of sorts. Middleton was selected as the 39th pick of the 2012 Draft, was traded as nothing more than salary filler early in his career, and now he becomes the first G League alum to make it to the All-Star Game.
With his running mate, Antetokounmpo, alongside him, and his coaching staff calling the shots from the bench, Middleton may well get some chances to shine too.
Perhaps the kind of mid-range looks that Budenholzer has withheld from Middleton’s shot diet will be allowed for one night only in Charlotte, or maybe the wing will take his three-point transformation to new extremes in letting it fly in volume from distance.
Who knows, perhaps Middleton and Antetokounmpo will even find a new victim to recreate the Tim Hardaway Jr. alley-oop under the brightest lights the NBA has to offer.
Either way, Middleton’s play over the past few years in Milwaukee deserves this recognition, and he’ll undoubtedly enjoy getting to play a part in the league’s annual showcase game.
What will Antetokounmpo and Middleton contribute to Milwaukee’s All-Star history on Sunday? We’ll all have to tune in to find out.