The Milwaukee Bucks have won two championships in their history so far. It could have been three if the Bucks hadn’t failed in the 2000-01 season.
The early 2000s were actually good times for the Bucks, mostly because of someone who could have been considered one of the best perimeter shooters in the league. Sweet shooter Glenn Robinson made a name for himself when he played for the Bucks in eight colorful seasons.
Big dog
Milwaukee drafted Robinson as the first overall pick in the 1994 draft, which also included highly touted players Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. Kidd went to the Dallas Mavericks as the second overall pick, while Hill was selected as the Detroit Pistons’ third overall pick.
Robinson’s stint with the Bucks got off to a shaky start when a contract issue delayed his signing with the team. The 6’7″ forward demanded a whopping $100 million contract and held training camp when the request was not granted. The dispute was eventually ironed out and Robinson signed a 68 contract million dollars over 10 years, the richest rookie contract in NBA history.
Nicknamed the Big Dog, Robinson quickly proved his worth when he submitted stunning numbers in his first year with the Bucks – he averaged 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2, 5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks.
Due to his great performances early in his career, Robinson earned what other players could only dream of when he was selected to play for Dream Team II. Robinson, however, had to pass up this rare opportunity after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury.
Ahead of its time
Glenn was fun to watch on the court, and he could easily have thrived in this modern NBA with his impeccable shooting touch. With its quick release, the Purdue University product didn’t need much room to land a shot. He wasn’t the fastest, jumping player of his generation, but Robinson terrorized his opponents on a daily basis with his deadly perimeter shot.
Milwaukee had its best season with Robinson in 2000-01 when the Bucks finished the season with a 50-32 record and won the Central Division. Forming a strong line with Ray Allen and Sam Cassell that season, Robinson helped the Bucks reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in an exhilarating championship series that spanned the full seven-game run.
Robinson left the Bucks after the 2001–02 season and played one season with the Atlanta Hawks. He then moved to the Sixers and played one season there.
Big Dog finally won a championship when he adapted for the San Antonio Spurs in 2004. He only played nine games for the Spurs and a myriad of injuries forced him into retirement. He ended his 11-year stint in the NBA with career averages of 20.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Milwaukee may have failed to win a crown with Robinson, but the Bucks certainly got more than they bargained for when they signed the soft-shot forward.
