On April 30, 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Baltimore Bullets 118-106 to win their first NBA championship. The team had won the equivalent of a Powerball jackpot the previous year, when a coin flip gave the team the first pick in the 1969 draft. The Bucks drafted Lou Alcindor, the dominating center from UCLA, then added the great Oscar Robertson, an equally dominating guard who had played for terrible teams for a decade. The early good fortune lead to glory as the Bucks franchise won its first title in only the third year of its existence.
At the time, I was a second grader at St. Therese School in Appleton, Wisconsin. While I didn’t follow the NBA that closely at first, I knew this championship was a big deal. Shortly after the Bucks won the championship, Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which confused me a bit, but second graders are easily confused. As we grew older, we would try to imitate Abdul-Jabbar’s famous sky hook on the school playground, ineffectively of course. We would cheer our Bucks and curse the mighty Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, who would stand in the way of our team’s glory. The Bucks made it back to the finals in 1974, but lost to the Celtics in 7 games, including the finale on the floor of the Milwaukee Arena.
As time went on, Abdul-Jabbar decided that he no longer wanted to live in Milwaukee, which did not fit his cultural needs. The Bucks traded Abdul-Jabbar and the players the team received in return formed the nucleus of a consistent contender for the league championship, but a team that never could get past the hated Celtics and the equally despised Philadelphia 76ers. This went on for over a decade, but by the early 90s Michael Jordan ruled the league and the Bucks became a footwipe. I continued to follow the Bucks throughout my adolescence and into adulthood, but there wasn’t much joy in it.
In 2013, the Bucks finally found the man who would replace Abdul-Jabbar, a Greek citizen of Nigerian descent named Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was 18 years old and while his talent was recognized, he was not invited to hang out in the green room with the other top prospects of that year. When his name was called, he came up on stage from the stands at Barclays Center, a face in the crowd. Over the following eight seasons, he transformed himself from a skinny refugee kid into the most imposing and relentless basketball player on the planet, earning the nickname “The Greek Freak.” On Tuesday evening, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years, scoring 50 points in a 105-98 clincher against the Phoenix Suns. For his part, Antetokounmpo is a thoroughly likable young man with a big smile and a spectacular game, and his teammates are equally talented and amiable. And after a 50-year wait, my childhood team had finally returned to the summit.
It’s a great story, but only if you accept the narrative that the NBA still means something. In the 50 years between championships, much has changed. The games in 1971 were played in darkened arenas with less than 13,000 people in attendance. The owners were local businessmen and the coachers were guys like Red Auerbach, the curmudgeonly cigar chomping leader of the Celtics. Over the course of 50 years, the NBA engaged in relentless marketing, leveraging the genuine star power of Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan to transform the league into an international entertainment. The money flowed and the movie stars and beautiful people were sitting courtside, especially in Los Angeles.
This went on for a long time, but in recent years the dominant player and personality has been LeBron James, immensely talented but a man with a perpetual scowl on his face. His preferred nickname is “King James,” and he has been an imperious monarch for nearly 20 seasons. He indulges in woke social commentary and turns a blind eye to the NBA’s sordid relationship with the Chinese government, claiming that critics of the tyrannical regime are not sufficiently informed. James is a tremendous talent, but he’s utterly detestable.
So after 50 years, how much joy is there in winning a championship of a league full of vipers and hypocrites? For me, more than is justified. The fan in me wants to get a championship cap that matches those the Bucks wore as they accepted the trophy in Milwaukee, but let’s face it, it’s likely that hat probably comes from a crappy Chinese factory and the profits would land in the coffers of some woke conglomerate.
But still, but still, I want to believe the Bucks have accomplished something noble and that my years of fandom are now being rewarded. My head says it’s a lie, but my heart says something else.
I feel your pain, but alas Buck’s achievement, while many things, is not noble.
Good reminiscence. For a number of reasons, I can’t do pro sports anymore and especially not the NBA (I suppose that’ll be perceived as a shout-out to the local David French). That said, I completely understand the described horns of your dilemma. Regardless, I’ll offer my best wishes and Don Surber does too.
For small-markets — the Bucks and Suns gave basketball fans a wonderful view of legends in the making. Giannis delivered on and off the court. I couldn’t help but notice
he wore a Jim Paschke t-shirt (the recently retired long time Buck’s TV announcer), to the press conference. Another great move among many. He’s easy to root for. A much needed role model for young people and the star that the NBA needs.
He’s easy to root for. A much needed role model for young people and the star that the NBA needs.
Yes, but is it too late?
The NFL is a coaches’ league – hierarchical, authoritarian, and conservative. The NBA is a players’ league – creative, individualistic and progressive.
Just enjoy the moment Mr. D. As all else in life, it will be fleeting.
As regards emery’s 10:37: I (and other Laker’s fans) actually witnessed Magic causing a head coach to be fired. A players league indeed.
Although if the player is Brady or Mahomes that might be an exception in the NFL, but nothing yet to confirm that.
This is a purely anecdotal, personal opinion… but as someone who completely gave up football in favor of basketball over time, here’s my hot take:
The NFL (and a large portion of its fans) takes itself too seriously — and they have their priorities backwards. They spend an inordinate amount of time punishing “who cares” infractions — like touchdown celebrations and dress code — and not enough time punishing things that really matter — like domestic abuse and racism. They say it’s to enforce “sportsmanship” and “class”… but to everyone else, it looks more like an organization obsessed with protecting its superficial appearance at the cost of its players. Ex: The NFL punishes marijuana use heavily… yet it’s an open secret that painkillers are rampant among its players. They heavily enforce the first for the sake of appearances — yet permit the second to keep the players playing.
The NBA doesn’t have that same sort of hang-up. Overall, I’ve found that the general attitude of NBA fans is much more relaxed and playful, because they understand players are humans and sometimes, emotions happen… and that it’s wrong to punish players for harmless conduct. NBA athletes seem to take themselves less seriously (see: Klay Thompson) and are much more relatable to fans as a result — likely because they don’t feel 24/7 pressure to protect the “dignity” of their “owners”.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060726024/002-9573152-71728
NFL= No Fun League
NBA athletes seem to take themselves less seriously (see: Klay Thompson) and are much more relatable to fans as a result — likely because they don’t feel 24/7 pressure to protect the “dignity” of their “owners”.
I agree, with notable exceptions — LeBron James seems very desirous to protect the dignity of the Chinese government. Basketball by its nature is more personality-driven than other major sports. Many (but not all) NBA players are the end product of a slimy pipeline, especially the AAU outfits that hold great sway over the game.
🚨I’m going to write something controversial!
The NFL doesn’t get things this right very often. This should be the standard for all pro sports going forward.
NFL teams face potential forfeits for COVID-19 outbreaks
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/nfl-teams-face-potential-forfeits-covid-19-outbreaks-78995976
Turns out there is a way to persuade the unvaccinated to get their shots.
Good example of a “hierarchical, authoritarian, and conservative” league.
jdm, also an example of wokedness and progressivism and science™. Anything BUT conservative.
You know if they told people no SEC football if the vaccine rate wasn’t 70% in all of the SEC states, they’d hit 70% by the end of July.
Sanford Health to require all employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations
https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/sanford-health-to-require-all-employees-to-get-covid-19-vaccinations/article_0f2d3c6e-ef4f-5271-9cdd-f4b1c0e70c95.html
@Mr D: One key factor distinguishing the two leagues: the different demographics of their fan bases. The NBA’s is almost certainly younger and more urban, and most certainly more international.
Social media and the ways the leagues are marketed also play roles. LeBron James has taken heat in Ohio for his “Yo bum” anti-Trump tweet, but his fan ban base extends so far beyond LA that he arguably becomes more popular by taking that stand and in any event he is also such a local hero that come game time his political stances are put aside.
Just look at the advertisements during an NFL game (Ford trucks and pharma companies galore) vs. an NBA game (Kia Motors, Youtube, Nike, Taco Bell, etc).
That demonstrates who the ad buyers think is really watching, regardless of the gerrymandered stats that the leagues try to spin to display “audience breadth”. I don’t recall seeing many erectile dysfunction ads during the NBA finals; I might have missed one, but I doubt it. They play every few minutes during an NFL game.
Social media and the ways the leagues are marketed also play roles. LeBron James has taken heat in Ohio for his “Yo bum” anti-Trump tweet, but his fan ban base extends so far beyond LA that he arguably becomes more popular by taking that stand and in any event he is also such a local hero that come game time his political stances are put aside.
Yeah and no. Bashing Trump is de rigueur, but I am far more troubled with his fealty to Xi.
“Yeah and no. Bashing Trump is de rigueur, but I am far more troubled with his fealty to Xi.”
China represents the NBA’s access to a billion-dollar market.
Would a free China buy even more NBA gear? It’s probably a tough sell where the Uighurs live.
D. it looks like reprobates are perfectly OK dealing with despots and genocidal maniacs. How progressive of them! And in the next breath they will tell you that capit4lism sucks and all rich people should rot in hell and give up their dough. Funny… I don’t see King LeChina lining up to share his dough.
Well, the NFL caused a Vikings coach Rick Dennison to be fired for refusing to take the jab.
D. it looks like reprobates are perfectly OK dealing with despots and genocidal maniacs.
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Nicely played, Mr D
@Mr D: If anyone ever thought the NBA had some kind of moral authority, more the fool them. James stood for Kaepernick because the stance was free. He declines to criticize China because the stance would be costly. The NBA is a business. Might as well ask Apple to take a stand against China.
The NBA is a players’ league – creative, individualistic and progressive
This part of that paragraph isn’t going well for you either.
James stood for Kaepernick because the stance was free. He declines to criticize China because the stance would be costly. The NBA is a business. Might as well ask Apple to take a stand against China.
James can speak for China, I don’t care. Daryl Morey losing his job for supporting Hong Kong is the issue, and James backstopping it is shameful.
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The league and its players stood tall in support of protestors here … but the money from the new TV market in China clearly had more importance to them than anything here.
Sometimes the best thing to do when your not a subject matter expert is to not say anything at all. Watch, learn and grow. Morey is highly educated and has been the defacto point man for the NBA in China. The irony is how misinformed Lebron is about Morey’s resume. Typical of the superstar athlete not remembering where he came from. High school eduation + a few hundred million dollars can put you in a position to do a lot of good regarding social justice, but it hardly makes you the more educated or informed person in the room. Lebron is accustomed to believing he is the smartest person in the room no matter what city he has played in. He has been the self proclaimed coach, general manager and talent recruiter at every stage of his career. Of course he thinks he knows better. Morey surely has a lot more framed parchment on his office walls than Lebron does. A trophy collection does not make you a statesman…..
Lebron is accustomed to believing he is the smartest person in the room no matter what city he has played in. He has been the self proclaimed coach, general manager and talent recruiter at every stage of his career. Of course he thinks he knows better.
And that’s the rub. If Antetokounmpo becomes the new face of the league, it will help in myriad ways.
The summer after Giannis was drafted, before he played his first NBA game, he walked from his rented apartment in Milwaukee to the training facility every day. Not to get in shape, but to not spend money on a car that could better be used by his family overseas.
This is a wonderful young man.
Frankly, both rosters are filled with truly nice, thoughtful people. In 30+ years of basketball fandom, it’s hard to think of two teams I’ve liked better in the Finals.
Happy to see Chris Paul play in a finals and I’m delighted that Milwaukee gets a championship. Through decades of NBA nonsense and silliness, Milwaukee has quietly been a professional organization that puts together quality teams. Their achilles heal is the fact that they are not a major market city, so can’t draw or keep (Kareem) talent.
Giannis’ incredibly balanced perspective, combined with his one-in-a-generation skill set changed all that.
Maybe the NBA is turning the corner into another golden age. I’m very bullish on the health of the sport.