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Milwaukee Bucks: Oshkosh Selected As Site Of New D-League Affiliate

By Josh Cornelissen

Mar 20, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; A Milwaukee Bucks inflatable of mascot Bango flies prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Utah won 94-85. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; A Milwaukee Bucks inflatable of mascot Bango flies prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Utah won 94-85. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Fans get ready for game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Fans get ready for game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Spread Fan Base

As mentioned briefly above, the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin has been home to professional basketball for decades, and was a shrewd choice by the Bucks on a number of levels.

While accessibility was certainly a major factor, D-League teams are also an avenue to income, and Milwaukee leveraged that opportunity well.

Prior to the start of the NBA, a league called the National Basketball League was one of, if not the top professional basketball league in the country. Oshkosh hosted one of the teams, the Oshkosh All-Stars, which saw wild success during a 12-year run.

When the NBL merged with the NBA’s forerunner, the Basketball Association of American, to form the NBA in 1949, the All-Stars folded due to a lack of facilities and resources to match NBA standards.

Since then the Oshkosh area has been home to other minor league teams, including the Wisconsin Flyers of the Continental Basketball Association.

That long-time minor league saw alumni such as Jo Jo White and Raja Bell have successful NBA careers, and even served as stepping points for championship coaches such as Rick Carlisle, Phil Jackson and Kevin Ollie.

The modern basketball presence in Oshkosh is the Fox Valley Pro Basketball association, and the Bucks are purchasing a franchise from that association to base in Oshkosh.

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Much like the Charlotte Hornets did by placing a team in Greensboro, the Bucks will hope to leverage basketball fans in the area into becoming diehard NBA supporters.

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