A franchise with some of the league’s greatest among its draftees has a deep and interesting past. Who are the top 10 draft picks in Milwaukee Bucks history?
The Milwaukee Bucks are no stranger to the highs and lows of the NBA Draft.
One of the older franchises in the league, the Bucks joined the NBA in 1968. In just their second season, they drafted a future Hall-of-Fame center in Lew Alcindor (who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and won a title just two years later. Their ascension straight to the top took full advantage of the NBA Draft in quickly building a solid roster.
In the decades since, the Bucks have struggled to put together strong top-to-bottom rosters, never once winning the Eastern Conference after trading Abdul-Jabbar. While the team has sustained stretches of strong play — 12 straight postseason appearances from 1980-91 — they have likewise slogged through seasons of mediocrity, such as a current 16-game stretch without a playoff series victory.
With the selection of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Bucks hark back to their selection of Abdul-Jabbar all those seasons ago. The young forward from Greece brought childlike wonder and elite potential to Milwaukee, and the sky is still the limit.
A number of seasons stretch between the two selections, and they provide context as Milwaukee prepares for its 50th NBA Draft. Who are the top 10 players drafted in Milwaukee Bucks history? How have those players helped the Bucks and their fans celebrate greatness – and which players belong in the pantheon of Milwaukee basketball?
Honorable Mentions: Andrew Bogut (2005), Jabari Parker (2014), Ersan Ilyasova (2005), Quinn Buckner (1976), Vin Baker (1993).