Most Milwaukee Bucks fans have taken in a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, fondly remember the team’s Big Three era, and know how to spell Antetokounmpo without looking it up. But only real fans know which players the team acquired in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, recall who represents the team in the NBA Jam video game, or can recite all the lyrics to “Light It Up!”
100 Things Bucks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource guide for true fans of Wisconsin’s professional basketball team.
Whether you’re a die-hard from the days of McGlocklin and Dandridge or a newer fan who’s fallen in love with Giannis, these are the 100 things all fans need to know and do in their lifetime. Bucks writer Eric Nehm has collected every essential piece of Bucks knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist for fans of all ages.
The Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise was formed in 1968 and they finished last in their division in the season that ended in 1969. They were fortunate enough to win the coin flip for the first pick in the draft and they selected Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after 1971.) They also traded for the great Oscar Robertson, allowing them to win the NBA title in only their third year of existence. A record for any major sports franchise. This book contains the facts of that achievement as well as the other highs and lows of the franchise up until the time of publication in 2018. There is a clear bias in the reporting, but nothing that will make the non-Buck fan revolt. All aspects of the franchise are included, from the trade of Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers, to the machinations of the ownership and the political entities that managed to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee to the mascot Bango. The entry about Bango doing a backflip slam dunk off a ladder will prompt all readers to look the video up online. I watched it and it is amazing. This compartmentalized history of the Milwaukee Bucks is very interesting, there are some insights that are not found elsewhere to this precision. You don’t have to be a Bucks fan to enjoy it.
Truly a must read for any Bucks fan. My first memories of the Bucks were of the mid-2000s’ teams, and I had little-to-no knowledge of the 70s and 80s. Eric Nehm does a tremendous job of vividly describing players, coaches, front office personnel, and moments from Bucks history. I was amazed by the depth of detail provided by Nehm in such short chapters. I’m more knowledgeable just in time for the season. Every Bucks fan should purchase this book.
Very enlightening read! I just finished this while the Bucks are in the second round of the playoffs versus the Boston Celtics (again!!) so some portions of this book are already outdated (in a good way). The Bucks have finally overcome the longest playoff series win drought in history! I look forward to many more productive years!