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.
No. 2. Khris Middleton
This selection might not be the most obvious, but also not the biggest surprise.
Khris Middleton has not had the individual success that Giannis has had in his career, but his impact for the Milwaukee Bucks has been just as great. After arriving to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013, he slowly worked his way into one of the premiere wing scorers in the entire league, and a major piece to the Bucks’ success over the years. In just his third year with the Milwaukee Bucks, he saw his points per game average soar to over 18 a game, which was a six point increase from what he averaged in his first season with the Bucks.
As he’s continued to develop over the years, he’s regularly been regarded as the side-kick to Giannis, but he’s played that role beautifully. He’s collected three all-star nods during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, and has found himself reaching the 20 points per game mark on multiple occasions. What makes his impact so unique is how he’s been able to step up for the Milwaukee Bucks when Giannis has either been injured or struggled in the past. Specifically, when you look at the significance he played in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, many can argue that the Milwaukee Bucks might not have made it to the Finals without Middleton’s performance.
After Giannis was hobbled with a knee injury during the ECF, the Milwaukee Bucks were looking for someone to step up in the MVP’s absence. After he went down in game four with the injury, Middleton’s scoring saw a major increase from the series’ first four games to the last two. He erupted for 26 points on 50-percent shooting from the floor, to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 3-2 series lead. In game six, his play shrined through the most, as he poured in 32 points for the Bucks, on their way to punching their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Since he’s had both individual and team success during his Milwaukee Bucks career, Middleton will more likely than not find his number 22 jersey hanging up in the team’s arena one day. However, with the recent extension he’s signed it will give the elite scorer more years to perform at a high individual level, and guide the Bucks to more championships which will guarantee his jersey being retired.
No. 3. Bobby Portis
This selection might be a bit of a stretch, considering the fact that Bobby Portis has only been with the team for three seasons. But, even in that short time he’s quickly become a fan-favorite among all Milwaukee Bucks fans. Many will correlate his arrival to Cream City with the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Title in his first year. His impact on the team during that Finals run was crucial, however it’s his presence on the team in the years that have followed that could see his jersey swaying above in floor at Fiserv Forum.
Bobby’s individual performance has been evident, with averaging 14 points per game in back-to-back seasons after averaging 11 in his first year with the Milwaukee Bucks. He put up a modest stat line during the NBA Finals in 2021, with his points per game nearly reaching 8 during the series. Since that first season, he has become a household name when discussing who the toughest players are in the NBA. He’s also established himself as one of the best sixth men in the league as well, which has been a nice added boost for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Portis acknowledges how much Milwaukee has meant to him in his career. He’s mentioned how he’s been able to play more like himself when wearing a Bucks uniform, and has felt most comfortable playing in front of Milwaukee fans during his career. But, to truly understand the love Portis receives from the city of Milwaukee, I’ll share a quick little personal story to highlight.
During the 2021 NBA Finals, I made the trip to watch the Bucks play the Suns for game three. It was an incredible atmosphere from opening tip to the final buzzer, and to this day still one of the best NBA-game environments I’ve ever been apart of in my life. Yet, the one thing I still remember to this day (and gives me chills as I write this) is the chants that Portis would receive when he was playing.
Almost instantaneously, and in complete unison, the Forum began to erupt when he hit the floor with loud chants of “Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!” which was incredible to witness. As the game continued, the chants grew louder and louder, and you could see him feeding off of the crowds energy in the passion he played with that night. As the chants increased in volume, I began to realize how polarizing a figure Portis is not only for the Milwaukee Bucks, but for the entire city of Milwaukee.
Yes, he hasn’t played nearly as long as many other Bucks have who have had similar impacts, and doesn’t have the extensive trophy case of individual awards either. But, what Portis possesses that many players don’t is a connection to an entire city, which can be more impactful than MVP’s and All-stars. He would need to still play in Milwaukee for a few more years, and obviously pick up another championship or maybe an award to be a true candidate. However, there is no question that the love he has from the fans could very well be enough to one day see his number retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.
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