Despite their small market status, the Milwaukee Bucks have housed their share of recognizable NBA names over the years. Unfortunately, by the time they got said player, sometimes it’s been a year or two late to where the player is now out of their prime. With that said, let us look back at a few examples of Bucks who would have thrived in their primes since 2000.
Milwaukee Bucks who would have thrived in their prime – Toni Kukoč
Toni Kukoč was an underrated part of the Chicago Bulls’ historic dynasty in the 1990s. The former Sixth Man of the Year won three championships with the Bulls and served as an essential scoring boost off of the bench. The Bulls entered a rebuild once Michael Jordan retired and Scottie Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets. Shortly after, Kukoc was traded several times.
After short stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks, Kukoč landed with the Bucks in a trade involving Glenn Robinson. Kukoč stuck with the Bucks for four seasons, having averaged 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Given that he was 34 when he arrived and 37 when he retired, Kukoč was past his prime as a Buck.
In his prime, there’s no denying that the Hall of Famer would have been a tremendous addition to the Milwaukee Bucks. As a member of the Bulls, Kukoč was a terrific scorer, defender, and passer, having averaged 14.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals primarily off the bench in seven seasons. There’s no denying that a player like that could have helped this team win.