Milwaukee Bucks is one of the best franchises in NBA history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson led them to the first championship, while Giannis Antetokounmpo won the second championship with the Bucks.
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As of late, the Milwaukee Bucks have been frequent contenders in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks have won four consecutive Central Division titles dating back to 2019. The way the team is playing right now, the Bucks could make it five in a row. Altogether, the Bucks have won 17 division titles, three Eastern Conference titles, and won two NBA championships. The two championships were 50 years apart and led by two generational players.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Giannis Antetokounmpo might have been five decades apart in leading Milwaukee to a championship, but their legacies will always live on. The top two players can have a dogfight conversation, but what about the rest of the all-time Bucks? These two Finals MVPs are not the only great players to suit up in the green and white. Dating back to 1968, the Bucks have plenty of successful players, as evidenced by their nine retired jerseys. We take a look at those players.
These are the 10 greatest Milwaukee Bucks players of all time.
Honorable Mentions
Quinn Buckner
Years in Milwaukee: 6 (1976-1982)
Milwaukee: 10.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Career: 8.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Honors: 4x All-Defensive Second Team (1978, 1980-1982)
Buckner was selected by the Bucks as the No. 7 overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft. He quickly grew into one of the best defensive players in team history. Buckner was a four-time All-Defensive Second Team selection, which included a three-year consecutive stretch between 1980 to 1982.
In 1984, Buckner won a championship with the Celtics. It was a shame that he never could win a title in Milwaukee for his years of hard work. His reputation was sound for being a hard worker, but the numbers back it up. To this day, Buckner remains the only player in team history to record over 1,000 steals. His 1,042 steals remain a team record.
Junior Bridgeman
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Years in Milwaukee: 10 (1975-1984, 1986-1987)
Milwaukee: 13.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Career: 13.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Honors: No. 2 retired by the Bucks
Bridgeman was “Mr. Dependable” during his years with the team. His first five seasons in the league featured playing in 81 or 82 games. Bridgeman played 77 games in 1980-81, 70 games in 1982-83, and then 81 games in 1983-84. His consistency is the reason that he owns the most games played, with 711 appearances. However, with Giannis Antetokounmp coming up on him with 691 games, that record will likely fall this season.
With that said, Bridgeman was a player that flirted with shooting 50% from the field consistently. Bridgeman ranks sixth in two-point field goals and regular field goals. Eight players own over 1,000 career points with the Bucks. Bridgeman ranks ninth with 9,892 points. For these reasons, his No. 2 jersey was retired in 1988.
Paul Pressey
Years in Milwaukee: 8 (1982-1990)
Milwaukee: 11.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Career: 10.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Honors: 2x All-Defensive First Team (1985, 1986), All-Defensive Second Team (1987)
Speaking of dependable players, Pressey was an iron horse. That included Pressey playing all 48 minutes on November 7, 1988, due to injuries to teammates. In his Bucks career, Pressey was a small forward that could have been a point guard. Pressey also made two All-Defensive First Teams and participated in the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest.
Pressey remains the leader in assists with the Bucks with 3,272 assists. However, like his former teammate in Junior Bridgeman, he is going to see that record fall. Antetokounmpo is creeping close with 3,207 career assists. Regardless, Pressey will remain a great player in team history.
Andrew Bogut
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Years in Milwaukee: 7 (2005-2012)
Milwaukee: 12.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.6 BPG
Career: 9.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Honors: All-NBA Third Team (2010), All-Rookie First Team (2006), Blocks Leader (2011)
The Bucks were coming off a disastrous 2004-05 season that led to the team getting the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The team used that pick on center Andrew Bogut. By his fourth season, Bogut was averaging a double-double in the league. His best season came in 2009-10 when he averaged a career-high 15.9 points, as well as 10.2 rebounds with 2.5 blocks per game. The following year, Bogut’s 2.6 blocks led the league.
While Bogut never became an All-Star and lived up to No. 1 overall pick expectations, Bogut was a productive player. He is one of the few players to ever make an All-NBA Team with Milwaukee. Bogut ranks fifth in offensive rebounds and total rebounds, as well as third in defensive rebounds. His blocks rank fourth all-time.
Brian Winters
Credit: Malcolm Emmons - USA TODAY Sports
Years in Milwaukee: 8 (1975-1983)
Milwaukee: 16.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Career: 16.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Honors: 2x All-Star (1976, 1978), All-Rookie First Team (1978), No. 32 retired by Bucks
Winters spent the start of his career with the Lakers but joined the team in 1975. He spent eight successful seasons that led up to his retirement in 1983. Winters was a fan favorite for the team after the Bucks struggled after the departure of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. During that time, Winters made two appearances on the All-Star team.
Winters ranks eighth in games and minutes played. He also ranks seventh in made field goals and two-point field goals. His best appearance on the records is ranking fourth in assists. He also ranks as one of seven players with at least 700 steals with the team, ranking seventh overall. His 9,743 career points just crack the top 10.
Glenn Robinson
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Years in Milwaukee: 8 (1994-2002)
Milwaukee: 21.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Career: 20.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Honors: 2x All-Star (2000, 2001), All-Rookie First Team (1995)
After a stellar career at Purdue, the Bucks used the No. 1 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft to draft Robinson. It took a few years for Robinson to make an All-Star appearance, but he made two straight trips in 2000 and 2001. Robinson was a player that averaged at least 20.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in seven of his eight seasons with the team.
Durability was a strength as he finished with the fourth most minutes. That matched his reputation for scoring, where he ranks fourth all-time in field goals. With those shots, Robinson owns the record for field goals missed. Robinson ranks fifth in free throws, sixth in three-point field goals, and seventh in total rebounds. It all goes back to the scoring, though, where his 12,010 career points rank third all-time.
Vin Baker
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Years in Milwaukee: 4 (1993-1997)
Milwaukee: 18.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Career: 15.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Honors: 3x All-Star (1995-1997), All-NBA Third Team (1997), All-Rookie First Team (1994)
Baker was the No. 8 overall pick by the Bucks in the 1993 NBA Draft. He panned out by making three All-Star appearances in four seasons with the Bucks. Baker averaged at least 20.0 points per game in two of his four seasons, including 21.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds in 1995-96. The following year, he made the All-NBA Third Team with 21.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.
In four seasons, Baker remains sixth in offensive rebounds. His 18.3 points per game with the Bucks is just outside the top 10 for points per game with the franchise. Had Baker stayed longer, we could have seen a better resume. With that said, Baker never made the playoffs with the Bucks and was later traded to the SuperSonics.
Alvin Robertson
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Years in Milwaukee: 4 (1989-1992)
Milwaukee: 12.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Career: 14.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Honors: All-Star (1991), 2x All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1991), 2x All-Defensive Second Team (1989, 1990), Steals Leader (1991)
Robertson was a defensive mastermind with the Spurs between 1984 to 1989. When Robertson came to the Bucks, the expectation was the same, and he delivered. In four seasons, Robertson made the All-Defensive Team every year. That included leading the league in steals, which was something he did three times in his NBA career. Robertson averaged 3.0 steals during the 1990-91 season, which was his lone All-Star appearance with the team.
Robertson holds the record for steals per game with the franchiser with 2.7. His 4.3% steal percentage is also a team record. His 753 career steals rank sixth best. Had Robertson played at least two more seasons, he would have been the second player to reach at least 1,000 steals for his career.
10. Michael Redd
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Years in Milwaukee: 11 (2000-2011)
Milwaukee: 20.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Career: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Honors: All-Star (2004), All-NBA Third Team (2004)
The 2000s were a bland year for the Bucks. The team never did anything that amazed the league’s fanbase. However, there was one player that kept you at the end of your seat, and that was Michael Redd. From 2004 to 2009, Redd averaged at least 20.0 points per game. His All-NBA appearance featured 21.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. That wasn’t even his best season. Redd averaged 26.7 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals during the 2006-07 season.
Redd’s teams didn’t perform well during this era, but that is not entirely all on him. A lot of times, Redd was carrying the offense. Redd is one of three players to own at least 1,000 three-point field goals. His 2,425 free throws also rank third. His 11,554 career points rank sixth all-time, as does his 20.0 points per game average.
9. Terry Cummings
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Years in Milwaukee: 6 (1984-1989)
Milwaukee: 19.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Career: 16.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Honors: 2x All-Star (1985, 1989), All-NBA Second Team (1985), All-NBA Third Team (1989)
A former No. 2 overall pick in the 1982 draft, Cummings didn’t see his career take off until he joined the Bucks. Immediately after leaving the Clippers, Cummings made the All-Star Game in his first season with the Bucks. That also included an appearance on the All-NBA Team. Cummings played in at least 80 games in three of the six seasons and did not play less than 76 games during his tenure.
With the Bucks, Cummings was a skilled offensive rebounder. His 1,307 offensive rebounds remain third-best. His numbers in defensive and total rebounds rank sixth, which helps his overall defensive rating. Cummings ranks seventh in defensive win shares and ninth in value over a replacement player. He is one of a few groups that have multiple All-NBA appearances as a member of Milwaukee.
8. Ray Allen
Years in Milwaukee: 7 (1996-2003)
Milwaukee: 19.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Career: 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Honors: 3x All-Star (2000-2002), All-NBA Third Team (2001), Three-Point Contest Champion (2002), All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
Some forget that before Ray Allen was shooting lights out from three-point range with the SuperSonics and Celtics, he was doing the same thing for seven years with the Bucks. Allen was a three-time All-Star from 2000 to 2002. Allen even participated in the Slam Dunk Contest in 1997. When Allen signed his six-year, $70.9 million contract extension in 1999, he was the highest-paid player in franchise history up to that point.
Allen left the Bucks as the career leader in three-point field goals. His 1,051 currently ranks second. Allen also has appearances in points per game (7th), free throws (9th), and steals (10th). Allen was a future champion with the Celtics and Heat, but we can never forget where everything started.
7. Khris Middleton
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Years in Milwaukee: 10 (2013-Present)
Milwaukee: 17.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Career: 17.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Honors: NBA Champion (2021), 3x All-Star (2019, 2020, 2022)
Talk about one of the best steals in franchise history. For starters, the Pistons drafted Middleton with the No. 39 overall pick in 2012. Then, the team acquired Middleton with Brandon Knight and Viacheslav Kravtsov for Brandon Jennings. All Middleton has done since then has been a consistent 17-point, five-rebound, and four-assist threat each night. He’s also made three All-Star appearances and was the second-best player on the 2021 championship team.
This is a player that will have his jersey retired by the Bucks. He is consistently making his way up the records. Middleton is the career 3-point field goal holder. He also has top 10 marks in games, minutes, field goals, free throws, total rebounds, assists, and steals. His 2,736 defensive rebounds are second to teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. His 11,049 career points rank seventh for now, but he could eventually be second in that category too.
6. Oscar Robertson
Credit: Malcolm Emmons - USA TODAY Sports
Years in Milwaukee: 4 (1970-1974)
Milwaukee: 16.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Career: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Honors: NBA Champion (1971), 2x All-Star (1971, 1972), All-NBA Second Team (1971), No. 1 retired by Bucks
After a decade with the Cincinnati Royals, Robertson was unable to get to the NBA Finals because it usually resulted in a playoff loss to Bill Russell and the Celtics. Robertson was acquired by the Bucks in 1970, and he was an immediate factor in the Bucks winning the 1971 championship. In that playoff run, Robertson averaged 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. He played in the playoffs all four seasons and was a perfect complement to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Robertson’s 7.5 assists per game with the Bucks remains a franchise record. Robertson’s 2,156 career assists rank eighth all-time. While Robertson doesn’t have many individual records with the team, it’s more about what he did in those four years. He was an All-Star talent. Plus, without Robertson, there is no way the Bucks would have won the title in 1971.
5. Bob Dandridge
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Years in Milwaukee: 9 (1969-1977)
Milwaukee: 18.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Career: 18.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Honors: NBA Champion (1971), 3x All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976), All-Rookie First Team (1970), No. 10 retired by Bucks
Among the best steals in a draft, Bob Dandridge was selected with the No. 45 overall pick in 1969. The shooting guard/small forward combo player was an instrumental player for the Bucks during the 70s. That included helping the team win a championship in 1971, averaging 19.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists during the team’s playoff run. That included a game 3 outburst of 29 points and 10 rebounds.
When Dandridge retired, he was the all-time leader in minutes played. It wasn’t until recently that Giannis Antetkounmpo passed Dandridge’s 22,094 total minutes. Dandridge was also second in field goals and two-point field goals until Giannis passed him as well. That goes for total rebounds. Among other categories, Dandridge is in the top 10 for assists and free throws and is sixth with 11,478 points. His one claim to fame is owning the team record for personal fouls.
4. Marques Johnson
Years in Milwaukee: 7 (1977-1984)
Milwaukee: 21.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Career: 20.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Honors: 4x All-Star (1979-1981, 1983), All-NBA First Team (1979), 2x All-NBA Second Team (1980, 1981), All-Rookie First Team (1978), No. 8 retired by Bucks
The Bucks selected Johnson with the No. 3 overall pick in 1977. The small forward quickly rose to fandom when he made his first All-Star appearance in his second season with the team. Johnson was the NBA’s third-leading scorer that season. That was his best season, with the team at 25.6 points per game. However, his rookie season would have won a Rookie of the Year Award in any other season after he averaged 19.5 points and 10.6 rebounds. Johnson averaged at least 20.0 points per game five times.
Johnson remains the greatest offensive rebounder in team history with 1,468 offensive boards. His total rebounds rank fourth, and his defensive rebounds rank fifth. Johnson also has appearances in the top 10 for free throws, steals, and blocks and is eighth all-time in points with 10,908. Johnson trails only two players in value over a replacement player in team history.
3. Sidney Moncrief
Years in Milwaukee: 10 (1979-1989)
Milwaukee: 16.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Career: 15.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Honors: 5x All-Star (1982-1986), All-NBA First Team (1983), 4x All-NBA Second Team (1982, 1984-1986), 2x Defensive Player of the Year (1983, 1984), 4x All-Defensive First Team (1983-1986), All-Defensive Second Team (1982), No. 4 retired by Bucks
Playing in the NBA during the 1980s was hard. The era featured Magic Johnson and Larry Bird leading their teams to the NBA Finals. Then, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley took the league by storm. Towards the later part of the decade, Isiah Thomas and the Pistons ran the East. The Bucks remained competitive during those years because they had Moncrief on the team. When you think of two-way players, that conversation should begin with Moncrief.
During the 80s, Moncrief made five All-Star appearances and four consecutive sections on the All-Defensive First Team. That is remarkable when you look at the talent that was there during that decade. Durability is the reason Moncrief ranks second in games played. Moncrief also ranks second in free throws, offensive rebounds, offensive win shares, and value over a replacement player. His 11,594 career points are fourth best. This was a player that we would have loved watching in the modern era.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Years in Milwaukee: 6 (1969-1975)
Milwaukee: 30.4 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 3.4 BPG
Career: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG
Honors: NBA Champion (1971), Finals MVP (1971), 3x MVP Award (1971, 1972, 1974), 6x All-Star (1970-1975), 4x All-NBA First Team (1971-1974), All-NBA Second Team (1970), 2x All-NBA First Team (1974, 1975), Rookie of the Year (1970), All-Rookie First Team (1970), 2x Scoring Champion (1971, 1972), Blocks Leader (1975), No. 33 retired by Bucks
The No. 1 overall pick in 1969 lived up to the expectations of being the best in the class. Abdul-Jabbar won the Rookie of the Year Award and then followed that with an MVP Award in his second season. Imagine averaging 31.7 points and 16.0 rebounds in just your second year. Then, you follow that with 34.8 points and 16.6 rebounds, and then 30.2 points and 16.1 rebounds. Abdul-Jabbar was averaging video game numbers in the early 70s. The 1971 Finals MVP also brought the first championship to Milwaukee. Even though he wanted out of Milwaukee for the larger market Los Angeles Lakers, he will remain beloved for what he brought to the city before he left.
Even though Abdul-Jabbar left the team in 1975, he still holds the team record for field goals (5,902), field goal attempts (10787), two-point field goals (5,902), two-point field goal attempts (10,787), total rebounds (7,161), field goal percentage (54.7%), minutes per game (42.7), rebounds per game (15.3), blocks per game (3.4), player efficiency rating (26.7), and sweeps offensive, defensive, and total win shares.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Years in Milwaukee: 10 (2013-Present)
Milwaukee: 22.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Career: 22.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Honors: NBA Champion (2021), Finals MVP (2021), 2x MVP Award (2019, 2020), 6x All-Star (2017-2022), All-Star Game MVP (2021), 4x All-NBA First Team (2019-2022), 2x All-NBA Second Team (2017, 2018), Defensive Player of the Year (2020), 4x All-Defensive First Team (2019-2022), All-Defensive Second Team (2017), Most Improved Player (2017), All-Rookie Second Team (2014)
The No. 15 overall pick from the 2013 NBA Draft has proven to be the best. Since joining the Bucks, Antetokounmpo has risen from being a productive starter to a top-5 player in the league. That includes winning an MVP Award in 2019 and 2020. Then, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years, which included a 50-point game in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win Finals MVP. With Antetokounmpo in the mix, the Bucks remain a contender to come out of the Eastern Conference.
At 28 years old, Antetokounmpo holds several records with the Bucks and is making his way toward many others. Antetokounmpo holds the record for minutes played, free throws, free throw attempts, defensive rebounds, blocks, turnovers, points, and triple-doubles. He holds the highest usage rate (28.6%) among any Bucks player ever and currently owns the best value over a replacement player. Giannis is under contract through the 2025-26 season, including a $51.9 million player’s option. Not only will he make the most money in team history, but will likely surpass many other records.
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