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The Milwaukee Bucks seized their first NBA Championship in 50 years, when they beat the Phoenix Suns 4-2 in the 2021 NBA Finals. It was a historic year for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the entire franchise, topped by a Larry O'Brien trophy and a championship parade in the Deer District.
Though some might argue that they didn't have to go through the toughest competition that the league has to offer, that is a debate best left untouched. The Milwaukee Bucks finished the regular season as the East's 3rd seed with an impressive 46-26 win-loss record. They then beat Miami, Brooklyn, Atlanta and Phoenix in the postseason, on their way to winning the title.
Despite being the defending champs heading into next season, the Milwaukee Bucks front office has made some seismic moves to reinvigorate the existing lineup. Let's take a look at the three areas where they made significant strides during the 2021 offseason.
#1 The Milwaukee Bucks hold on to their new-found heart and hustle
Bobby Portis is the kind of player that you hate to play against, but would love to have on your team. He gets under the skin of opponents, keeps the crowd involved and gets timely buckets down the stretch.
During his first year with the Milwaukee Bucks, the 25-year-old averaged 11.7 points and 7.1 boards per game, shooting over 55% from the field.
His hustle and heart were often the key difference makers in clutch playoff situations for the Bucks. When the Greek Freak got hurt against the Atlanta Hawks, Portis stepped up to clock 22 points in Game 6 and close out the series. He is an instant fan favorite and, to their merry delight, has the ability to opt out of his contract next season for an even greater payday.
Now that PJ Tucker and the Milwaukee Bucks haven't been able to agree to a contract agreement, the hard-nosed style of play will most certainly live on through Portis' antics. Tucker - who will turn 36 soon - signed a 2-year, $15 million deal with the Miami heat.
#2 The Milwaukee Bucks backcourt is now stronger than ever
The Milwaukee Bucks had to let go of George Hill in order to sign Jrue Holiday, but that deal eventually paid dividends. Hill has now returned to the Bucks on a 2-year, $8 million deal and the gravity of this move cannot be understated.
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks' backup point guard position never seemed fulfilled by the likes of Donte DiVincenzo and Jeff Teague. And in that regard, George Hill is a major upgrade. Not only is he one of the better combo guards in the league with excellent shooting, Hill is a beloved locker room presence and a voice everyone listens to.
Coming off the bench in the previous season, the 33-year-old veteran averaged 9.4 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds, on 51% shooting from the floor. Coupled with Jrue Holiday in his prime, the Milwaukee Bucks' backcourt is looking scarier as training camps inch closer.
#3 The franchise surrounded its marquee stars with fiesty young blood
Grayson Allen might be the most underrated acquisition by the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. The 25-year-old averaged 10.4 points for Memphis this past season, and shot almost 40% from the three-point line. With DiVincenzo out hurt, Allen will see increased playing minutes owing to his pesky defense, timely triples and reliable ball-handling skills.
The Milwaukee Bucks also traded their 31st overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to bag the 54th and 60th overall picks. With this move, they ended up drafting Sandro Mamukelashvili and Georgios Kalaitzakis.
During the summer league matchup against the Clippers, Mamukelashvii posted a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Kalaitzakis, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-8 point forward with handles, and can effectively create his own shot.
All in all, the Milwaukee Bucks have acquired and drafted some solid young talent who can develop into future stars soon, given the right conditioning and mentoring.
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
