10 Greatest Bucks in franchise history ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)

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.

9. Eric Bledsoe - 19.1

The Eric Bledsoe trade will always be an important landmark in Milwaukee Bucks history, as it came at a time when the team was beginning to flirt with title-contending status.

During his three years with the Bucks, Bledsoe played some of the best ball of his career, averaging a solid 16.3 points, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Like the aforementioned Moncrief, Bledsoe was a hound defensively, earning two All-Defensive selections with the Milwaukee Bucks and helping the team boast one of the league's best defenses.

The addition of Bledsoe helped form a Big 3 alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, giving those two the best point guard either had played with to date. That certainly helped them as they developed and took their games to the next level.

Unfortunately, the Bledsoe era was synonymous with playoff shortcomings. The guard was known to regress in the postseason, and it hurt Milwaukee again and again. Eventually, after their third and final playoff run together ended in an early exit, the Bucks decided it was time for an upgrade, starting a domino effect of moves that led the team to a title.

Fans may not have the fondest memories of how Bledsoe's tenure, but given that he comes in at ninth place on the franchise's all-time PER rankings, he clearly did some good.

8. Ray Allen - 19.3

When you think of Ray Allen, it's hard not to picture those iconic purple jerseys with the deer front and center that Milwaukee Bucks have wanted to see return for what seems like an eternity.

In that jersey, Allen played five seasons with the Bucks after being selected in the opening round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Throughout his time with the Bucks, Allen quickly become a star, averaging an impressive 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. It was clear that the Bucks had a special talent on their hands and that Allen could be a centerpiece for years to come.

The guard was the team's leading playoff scorer in that deep playoff run in 2001 that saw them fall just short of reaching the NBA Finals, where they would have faced Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neale and the Los Angeles Lakers. It was heartbreaking, but not as heartbreaking as what was coming in the next few years.

Midway through the 2002-03 NBA season, the Bucks traded Ray Allen to the Seattle Supersonics in exchange for Gary Payton, who was far past his prime at that point. The decision set the team back for over a decade until they picked up a rather unknown Greek prospect in the first round during the 2013 NBA Draft.

Fans wish his time with the team would have been much, much longer, especially as he went on to win titles with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, but there is no denying the impact he had in Milwaukee.

7. Jrue Holiday - 19.7

Jrue Holiday's tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks was short, but, boy, was it eventful.

Just before the 2020-21 NBA season, the Bucks pulled the trigger on a massive trade that saw them bring in Jrue Holiday, moving on from the aforementioned Eric Bledsoe. Alongside the two other star players, Holiday helped form one of the most lethal trios in franchise history. There were struggles in the regular season, but Holiday eventually found his footing with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Holiday's first playoff run with the Bucks in 2021 was full of memorable moments, none of which top the "Valley Oop" against the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Not only did Holiday steal the ball from Devin Booker in the closing moments, but he also found Giannis Antetokounmpo up top for an and-one dunk to stun the Phoenix crowd and virtually seal the victory on the road.

Holiday and the Bucks could not capture that same magic over the rest of his time in town, but he was still a strong piece for them, earning more All-Defensive selections and even the second All-Star nod of his NBA career. It seemed like Holiday was a strong candidate to finish off his career with the team, but, of course, this league is very unpredictable.

Over those three seasons he played with the Milwaukee Bucks, Holiday helped the Bucks snap their 50-year title drought, and his efforts helped him finish top-10 in PER.

6. Michael Redd - 19.7

A lot of younger Bucks fans may not remember that before Khris Middleton, there was another player donning No. 22 and knocking down shots in town.

Michael Redd spent all but one year of his NBA career - his final season - with the Milwaukee Bucks. He showed glimpses of potential throughout his first three seasons, but Redd truly started to make a name for himself in the 2003-04 season, which happened to be the first year following the Ray Allen trade that saw the Bucks go in another direction entirely.

During that 2003-04 season, Redd was an All-Star and named to an All-NBA team while also getting consideration for Most Improved Player, though he did not win it. With Allen out, Redd moved into the starting lineup full time and took his game to the next level, providing a beacon of hope that perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks had another star on their hands.

Redd's tenure never resulted in much postseason success for the Bucks, but there's no denying what he brought to the table. In 11 seasons and 578 regular season games with the Bucks, he averaged 20 points, four rebounds, 2.3 assists and one steal per game. He'll never be the most recognizable Buck to wear No. 22, but there's no doubt he was a steal of a second-round selection.

5. Sam Cassell - 21.2

While Ray Allen will get the most recognition for the success of those early 2000s Milwaukee Bucks teams, Sam Cassell also deserves his flowers.

Similarly to Bledsoe and Holiday, Cassell came in via trade as the point guard to round out the Big 3, which was built around Cassell, Ray Allen and Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson. Cassell always possessed the talent, but he struggled to stick wherever he played early in his career, bouncing around from team to team. It was with the Bucks that he truly showed the type of player he could be.

After being acquired in 1999, Cassell spent the next five years in Milwaukee and played some of the best basketball of his lengthy NBA career, becoming a key cog. During his stay in Milwaukee, Cassell averaged 19 points, 7.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest across 313 regular season games, developing himself into a top floor general.

Cassell's time in Milwaukee served him well, as after being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves the same year Allen was dealt, the guard had the best individual season of his career, earning an All-Star selection. Perhaps Cassell's time in Milwaukee helped prepare him to play alongside another strong trio, this time comprised of Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell.

4. Greg Monroe - 21.2

The inclusion of Greg Monroe this high might just be the most shocking piece of knowledge on this entire list.

When Monroe signed with the Bucks in July of 2015, it was viewed as a potential turning point for the franchise, given what he could bring to this team. The big man's first two years with the Bucks were very productive, with Monroe averaging 13.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a steal per game, splitting time as both a reserve and a starter.

After playing just five games with the Bucks in 2017-18, Monroe was traded to the Phoenix Suns in the deal that brought Eric Bledsoe to Milwaukee. Several years later, during the 2021-22 NBA season, the Bucks brought Monroe back on a 10-day deal, where he played five more games for the franchise as they needed frontcourt depth with Brook Lopez missing time due to surgery.

Both of Monroe's stints with the Milwaukee Bucks were brief, but as highlighted by his placement on this list, he clearly made an impact. He was a key piece on those rising Bucks teams that helped fuel the success the team has had in recent memory. At the time, Monroe was viewed as one of the best free agent signings this team ever had. History is fun to look back on.

3. Marques Johnson - 21.2

If we're speaking on underappreciated Milwaukee Bucks, Marques Johnson needs his respect.

Long before he was rocking the headset and calling games, Johnson was a first-round selection by the Bucks in 1977. It was clear immediately that Milwaukee had a player on their hands as Johnson hit the ground running and finished tied for 10th in the MVP race as a rookie. His game only improved after that, with Johnson quickly establishing himself as one of the NBA's top forwards.

During his seven years with Milwaukee, Johnson was named an All-Star on four separate occasions and named to an All-NBA team three times while averaging 21 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per matchup. He was among the first "point forwards" in the game, helping usher in a new era of basketball due to his incredible versatility.

Michael Jordan, arguably the best player to ever lace them up, was quite fond of Johnson, having a poster of him in his dorm room in college and wanting to initially sign with Adidas because that is who Johnson was with. Jordan has been very public with his praise of Johnson over the years, highlighting the impact he had on up-and-coming players at the time.

The Bucks rightfully retired Johnson's No. 8 jersey in March of 2019, sending it to the rafters forever.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 25.4

You knew Giannis Antetokounmpo would pop up somewhere on this list, but you were not sure if it would be the second or first spot.

Since being drafted in 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo has achieved just about everything a player can hope to do in their careers. He's got two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year, a Most Improved Player nod, and, the most prestigious honor, an NBA Finals Trophy to get with a sizeable number of All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive selections.

Perhaps some day he will make a run at Sixth Man of the Year.

Statistically, he's averaged 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals across 788 regular season games. In that span, he has taken over the top spot for so many franchise feats, and he's still gunning for more with each passing game. He's having what many would call his best year, as he's on pace to average 30 points and five assists on 60 percent shooting, a first-ever.

Antetokounmpo is already the greatest player this franchise has ever employed in the eyes of many, but he has a chance to add to his legend every single day. Knowing his competitiveness and desire to succeed, he'll likely make a hard run at the top spot on this list as well. You can probably guess who is currently occupying the top spot.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 26.7

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may be most well-known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, but it all began with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The big man was an instant success in the association, winning Rookie of the Year and being named an All-Star in his first season. He won three MVPs and was named an All-Star five more times over the next five seasons while also winning an NBA championship in what has to be one of the best starts to a career ever.

Numbers-wise, Abdul-Jabbar averaged an impressive 30.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. He was mostly known as an electric scorer down low, owning one of the most iconic moves in NBA history in the "Skyhook." That one move was nearly unstoppable and helped him score over 38,000 points in his career, over 14,000 of which came with the Bucks.

Abdul-Jabbar's departure from the Bucks left a sour taste in the mouths of many, but there's simply no arguing what he did for the franchise, especially helping them win their first championship. It will now be interesting to see if he holds this top spot forever or if the Greek Freak will overthrow him at some point.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.