Current Milwaukee Bucks who could have their jersey numbers retired
Having your jersey number retired is one of the highest honors to earn as a player in the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks have selected nine former players to have their jerseys hang in the rafters at Fiserv Forum for the rest of time. These players have had varying impacts on the Milwaukee Bucks, whether it’s Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who helped capture the team’s first NBA title, or Sidney Moncrief who was a defensive specialist on many playoff teams for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 80s.
When it comes to the current roster, there are a few players that could have their jerseys retired by the Milwaukee Bucks. Some players are a little bit more obvious, while others might have to still put in a few more good years in the Bucks uniform. When it’s all said and done, these three players could very well join the prestigious company of other former Milwaukee Bucks who have solidified their legacy.
No 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
I think this is a fairly obvious selection, with the impact that Giannis has already had in his first 10 years with the Milwaukee Bucks. With seven all-star selections, two MVPs, seven All-NBA picks, and a Defensive Player of the Year Award, the individual accomplishments are enough to see his jersey retired by the team. But the one crowning jewel that will allow him to live in Milwaukee Bucks lore forever is the 2021 NBA Championship.
After being bounced out of the playoffs in 2019 by the Toronto Raptors, many felt that Giannis’ time with the Milwaukee Bucks was going to come to an end. However, he proved many people wrong by signing his five-year extension in the winter of 2020. Once he put ink to paper, Giannis and the Bucks both started to see their stocks rise in the NBA, with his individual dominance and the team’s overall play. He would then go on to have a historic run in the playoffs, helping the Milwaukee Bucks to defeat the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks en route to the NBA Championship against the Phoenix Suns.
Once the Milwaukee Bucks reached the NBA Finals, many felt they would run out of steam going up against a Suns team that was led by Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton. After going down in the series 0-2, Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks would make one of the biggest series comebacks in franchise history. Giannis was sensational in Game 3, putting up 41 points with 13 rebounds and six assists. The Bucks took Games 3 and 4 in Milwaukee, setting up a pivotal Game 5 showdown in Phoenix.
Giannis played at, yet again, an elite level despite playing in a hostile environment on the road. He put up 32 points, with nine rebounds, and had a massive and-one dunk after an alley-oop from Jrue Holiday. But, his Game 6 performance is what all Milwaukee Bucks fans will remember when looking back at his career and what will go down as one of the all-time performances in Finals history. He poured in a series-high 50 points with 14 rebounds and two assists, along with five blocks, which led to him being named NBA Finals MVP.
Having helped capture the Milwaukee Bucks’ first championship in 50 years to go along with the countless individual awards he has amassed during his career, it’s a no-brainer that Giannis will see his number 34 jersey hanging in the Forum when his career is over.