Milwaukee Bucks: 15 best draft picks in franchise history

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Without a question, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best player to ever suit up for the Milwaukee Bucks. As a result, in spite of his selection with the top pick in 1969 being arguably the most foregone conclusion in draft history, the Bucks get plenty of credit here for not messing it up.

Then known as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar entered the NBA with a formidable legacy in tact as one of the greatest college players of all-time and a three-time national champion with UCLA.

For all intents and purposes that made the decision a simple one, but the lack of star caliber production from those who went in the spots below Abdul-Jabbar only further reinforces the risks that would have come from overthinking. In fact, it wasn’t until the Celtics selected Jo Jo White at No. 9 that another true star was selected after the Bucks’ turn at No. 1.

With Abdul-Jabbar as the centerpiece, the Bucks had the perfect player to not only allow them to find their footing as a still new franchise in the NBA, but also to put together a run of meaningful success to energize the fanbase straight away.

Abdul-Jabbar ultimately delivered the Bucks to their high point in 1971, but questions of what could have been will forever float around in regard to the 1974 Finals or the potential alternate timeline if he’d remained in Milwaukee.