In conjunction with their 40th anniversary, the Bucks have created a contest to pick the top 20 players in franchise history.
The Bucks asked me to pick my top 20 for OnMilwaukee.com. The way I figure it, and I don't think I'm mistaken, I have seen every single player who has ever played for the team.
I saw the team in its first year and I've seen them every year since. Unless somebody was on the team for only a couple of games, I'm pretty sure I've seen them play. Some of them I remember, some I don't. But at least I've seen them all.
For a number of reasons, trying to pick my top 20 isn't easy.
Gary Payton, for example, was one of the best point guards ever to play the game. But he played most of his games in Seattle and not even a full year in Milwaukee, where he didn't have much of an impact.
Oscar Robertson only played four seasons in Milwaukee, but he led the Bucks to a title. It's the same with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who only played six seasons, but was on a championship team.
So, here's my deal. I'm putting guys on the team who made contributions to the success of the Bucks. If they were great players before they became Bucks (Payton, Jack Sikma) or became great players after they left the Bucks (Alex English) they don't make my team.
So, what follows is my top 20, with capsule descriptions of my valuation. Feel free to jump in.
1. Oscar Robertson: Very simply the best basketball player I ever saw with the possible exception of Elgin Baylor. The Bucks would never have won a title without him.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The most dominant force the game has ever seen. An absolute scoring machine. If he'd stayed in Milwaukee we'd have won at least a couple of more titles.
3. Sidney Moncrief: The definition of heart. Never once mailed it in. He played both ends of the court every minute he was in the lineup. Very smart.
5. Bob Dandridge: His game was speed and silk. Moved with extreme grace and played great two-man basketball with Abdul-Jabbar. Plus, had one of the best smiles you've ever seen.
6. Glenn Robinson: I know lots of fans think he was a dog. But put a basketball in his hands and there was magic more often than not. The problems came when he didn't have a ball in his hands.
7. Bob Lanier: Helped bring the Bucks back to a force after a down period. Without him, Don Nelson might never have been as successful a coach. A great leader and the best sense of humor ever on the team.
8. Quinn Buckner: A real solid citizen who was great at getting other players involved in the game. A Bobby Knight disciple who excelled at using his brain to play the game.
9. Michael Redd: Nobody shoots it like Redd. He's got range and touch and can take it inside as well, rare for a pure shooter.
10. Paul Pressey: Maybe the best defensive player the team has ever had. When the big time scorers came to the Arena, Pressey got the job of stopping them. Tough, tough.
11. Jon McGlocklin: Often overlooked as a player because of his immense civic presence. But he could shoot the ball with the best of them and is the only Buck who ever owned a carpet store (we think. -ed.).
12. Brian Winters: The reincarnation of McGlocklin. Great, great jump shot and very good under pressure.
13. Lucius Allen: Played with Abdul-Jabbar at UCLA, Allen had speed to burn. He was a great reserve on the championship team.
14. Ray Allen: One of the all-time worst trades in the world was the one that got rid of this guy. Not a great defender, but could run, pass and shoot. Those are three pretty good skills.
15. Junior Bridgeman: Had a very unusual shot with a weird spin, but managed to hit it. Could run with the best of them and played bigger than he was.
16. Terry Cummings: Was a real force for five seasons in the '80s. Combination of great scoring and very tough. Learned to play from Ray Meyer at DePaul.
17. Rickey Pierce: One of the sweetest jump shots ever, he was the classic sixth man. Only needed half a second to get warm and hot. Simply an amazing shooter.
18. Vin Baker: I know, I know. Big alcohol problems. But when he was sober and in shape, he could play the strong forward spot about as well as it can be played. Great player, but a sad case.
19. Sam Cassell: Teamed with Robinson and Ray Allen to form the Big Three. Sam was an odd duck, but he was a real go-to guy in crunch time. Rarely made a bad shot or bad pass under pressure.
20. Mickey Davis: Was a reserve forward on the title team. Never saw a floor he wouldn't dive on or a basketball he wouldn't chase. A nice guy who loved the game, the guys he played with and got a championship ring he deserves. This guy would fight at the drop of a hat.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
