2021 Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee reshaped its roster after years of playoff disappointment. The Bucks traded a package of picks for Jrue Holiday to put a defensive guard next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. They went 46-26 in a season shortened to 72 games.

Antetokounmpo nearly missed the Finals. He hyperextended his left knee in the conference finals against Atlanta, an injury that looked far worse on replay. He returned for Game 1 of the Finals.

Phoenix won the first two games at home. Milwaukee took the next four. Antetokounmpo scored 50 in the Game 6 clincher and made the defensive play of the series in Game 4, a chase-down block on Deandre Ayton at the rim.

Khris Middleton handled the late-game scoring, Brook Lopez protected the paint, and Bobby Portis became a fan favorite off the bench. The title ended a 50-year drought, the longest active gap in the league until that night.

The starting five was Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, P.J. Tucker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez. Mike Budenholzer coached the group with Bobby Portis as the primary bench scorer.

The full roster ran deeper than the headline names. Role players who mattered included Donte DiVincenzo (injured early in the playoffs); Bryn Forbes (bench shooter).

The 2021 title came in the modern era of load management, threes, and switch-heavy defense. The Milwaukee Bucks still had to win four series, usually against teams built to contend rather than tank.

The Milwaukee Bucks share a lineage with other banners from 1971. Compare those seasons on the franchise hub to see how the roster and style changed between title runs.

Looking back, the 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks won their first title since 1971, beating the Phoenix Suns in six after falling behind 0-2. Giannis Antetokounmpo closed the series with 50 points in Game 6. Jrue Holiday, acquired that offseason, swung Game 5 with a steal and an alley-oop lob to Giannis in the final minute.

For the full roster beyond the featured starters, see the table on this page. For other Milwaukee Bucks titles, use the franchise hub linked below.