The Milwaukee Bucks have now won two NBA titles. The first one came in 1971. The second one came in 2021. Yes, a 50-year difference between the two championships. The main reasons for those titles, was due to the play of the big men on those Milwaukee teams. In 1971, it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) and in 2021 it was Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Both players came to the Bucks in the 1st round of their respective NBA drafts.
Abdul-Jabbar (then Alcindor) was the first player taken in the 1969 NBA draft. The Bucks were able to select No. 33 after winning a coin toss versus the Phoenix Suns for the right to draft the man who led UCLA to three straight NCAA championships.
Antetokounmpo was also taken in the 1st round with the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA draft at the age of 18.
Kareem won his first NBA title in just his second year in the NBA. He had been named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 1969-70 season was the NBA MVP in 1970-71 going into the playoffs.
Giannis won his first NBA title in his eighth season in the NBA. No. 34 was twice named as the NBA MVP (2018-19 & 2019-20), plus was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20.
When Kareem and the Bucks won the NBA title in 1971, their opponent was the Baltimore Bullets. The Bucks were able to sweep the Bullets in four games and Abdul-Jabbar was named NBA Finals MVP. But Kareem received some help from his teammates. Oscar Robertson averaged 23.5 points per game, 5 rebounds per game and 9.5 assists per game vs. Baltimore. In addition, Bobby Dandridge averaged 20.3 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game.
When Giannis and the Bucks won the NBA title in 2021, their opponent was the Suns. The Bucks were able to win the series in six games, after being down 2-0 in the series. Giannis was named NBA Finals MVP. But the “Greek Freak” also had some help. Khris Middleton averaged 24 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 5.3 assists per game. In addition, Jrue Holiday averaged 16.7 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game and 9.3 assists per game. Plus, both Antetokounmpo (1.2) and Middleton (1.5) averaged over a steal per game, while Holiday (2.2) averaged over two steals per game.
In the 1971 NBA Finals, the Bucks played their home games at the Milwaukee Arena, but won the clinching game at the Baltimore Civic Center.
In the 2021 NBA Finals, the Bucks played their home games at the Fiserv Forum and won the clinching game at home in front of 17,500 fans in the forum and 65,000 more fans in the Deer District area.
Let’s take a look at what Kareem and Giannis did in helping to bring the city of Milwaukee the NBA title, as both were named MVP.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1971 NBA Finals
- Points Per Game: 27
- Rebounds Per Game: 18.5
- Assists Per Game: 2.8
Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2021 NBA Finals
- Points Per Game: 35.2
- Rebounds Per Game: 13.2
- Assists Per Game: 5
Bottom line, both Kareem and Giannis were able to lead their respective teams to the NBA title by performing at a MVP level. Kareem would later win five more NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. Time will tell how many more NBA titles that Giannis will win. The odds are pretty good that the 2021 NBA title won’t be the last. After all, Giannis is still only 26 years-old.
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