10 Greatest Bucks in franchise history ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks have never been the largest market the NBA has to offer, but they have employed their share of recognizable names.
Everyone has their own list of the most impactful players in the franchise's history, but how would that list shake out based on Player Efficiency Rating or PER? Our friends over at Air Alamo summed up the meaning of what PER is to perfection.
"Developed by ESPN Columnist John Hollinger, this stat collects data of everything a player statistically accomplished in their career, both positive and negative, and combines it into a single number. For reference, a PER of 15 indicates a league-average level player, with 20 being an All-Star level player and 25 or higher being MVP level."
That said, let us rank the 10 best.
10. Sidney Moncrief - 19.1
Is it reasonable to call a Hall of Famer underrated? If so, Sidney Moncrief fits the mold to perfection.
Although they never got over the hump, the Milwaukee Bucks were a fantastic team throughout the 1980s, and a significant reason for that was Moncrief. Throughout his 10-year stay in Milwaukee, the guard earned five All-Star selections, five All-NBA selections, five All-Defensive selections and two Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
As one could piece together based on his accolades, Moncrief was most well-known for his defense. The guard was a nightmare for opposing players to try and work around. Need proof from someone who went up against him? Look no further than Michael Jordan, one of the greatest scorers to ever play the game, speaking to the LA Times about Moncrief in 1986.
“When you play against Moncrief, you’re in for a night of all-around basketball,” said Jordan, a spectator on this night. “He’ll hound you everywhere you go, both ends of the court. You just expect it."
Yet, although defense may have been his calling card, Moncrief was no slouch on the offensive side of the ball either. As a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged 16.7 points per matchup, which included over 20 points in four seasons. Elsewhere, he averaged five rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals over 695 regular season games.
An incredible 10-year run with the Bucks helped Moncrief land 10th all-time in franchise PER.