NBA Team Guide
Milwaukee Bucks: History, Championships & Facts
The Milwaukee Bucks joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968 and won the championship in 1971, their third season. They won a second title in 2021.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1968, NBA expansion team (first season 1968–69) |
|---|---|
| Arena | Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee (opened 2018) |
| NBA titles | 2 (1971, 2021) |
| NBA Finals appearances | 3 through the 2025–26 season (1971, 1974, 2021) |
| Conference | Eastern Division 1968–1970, Western Conference 1970–1980, Eastern Conference from 1980 |
| NBA Cup | Won in 2024 |
Championship history
Milwaukee has won two NBA championships, 50 years apart. It also won the 2024 NBA Cup.
- 1971 NBA Finals: swept the Baltimore Bullets 4–0
- 1974 NBA Finals: lost to the Boston Celtics 4–3
- 2021 NBA Finals: beat the Phoenix Suns 4–2 after losing the first two games
- 2024 NBA Cup: beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 97–81 in the final
Franchise history
- 1968: Founded as an NBA expansion team.
- 1969: Won a coin flip with Phoenix and drafted Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
- 1971: Won the NBA title in the franchise's third season.
- 1980: Moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference, where it had played its first two seasons.
- 1988: Moved into the Bradley Center.
- 2018: Opened Fiserv Forum.
- 2021: Won a second NBA title, beating Phoenix.
Franchise record holders
| Points | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
|---|---|
| Points per game | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 30.4 |
| Rebounds per game | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 15.3 |
Retired numbers
- 1Oscar Robertson
- 2Junior Bridgeman
- 4Sidney Moncrief
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 8Marques Johnson
- 10Bob Dandridge
- 14Jon McGlocklin
- 16Bob Lanier
- 32Brian Winters
- 33Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Hall of Famers
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sidney Moncrief, Bob Dandridge, Ray Allen, Don Nelson.
Biggest rivalries
- Boston Celtics: opponents in the 1974 Finals and frequent Eastern Conference playoff foes since 1980.
- Chicago Bulls: Central Division rivals linked by Interstate 94.
- Phoenix Suns: fellow 1968 expansion team; Milwaukee won the 1969 coin flip and the 2021 Finals.
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How many championships have the Bucks won?
Two NBA titles, in 1971 and 2021.
How did the Bucks get Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Milwaukee and Phoenix, both 1968 expansion teams, flipped a coin for the first pick in 1969. Milwaukee won and drafted Lew Alcindor, who later took the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Who did the Bucks beat in the 2021 Finals?
The Phoenix Suns, 4–2, after losing the first two games.
Who has the highest scoring average in Bucks history?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at 30.4 points per game from 1969 to 1975 (minimum 40 games).
When did the Bucks win the NBA Cup?
In December 2024, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97–81 in the final.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.