The Milwaukee Bucks have had the pleasure of hosting several amazing talents since their inception in 1968.
The first player that comes to mind is the legendary center Lew Cindor (now Kareem Abdul Jabbar), followed by the all-around game of triple-double machine Oscar Robertson at the point guard position. Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, has revolutionized the forward position for the Bucks in this era.
These stars have been so amazing that pundits have been sleeping on the fact that Milwaukee has also been home to several stellar shooting guards over the years. They may not be as accomplished as the players mentioned above, but these sharpshooters have indeed been a vital part of the organization.
Here are five of the best shooting guards in Bucks history.
5. Jon McGlocklin
This name probably does not ring a bell considering McGlocklin suited up for the Bucks way back in 1968 to 1976.
The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter was well ahead of his time and retired three years before the 3-point line was introduced in the NBA. He could have certainly thrived from distance, as defenders were often at the mercy of his high-arcing “rainbow” jump shot.
McGlocklin was even once dubbed as “Mr. Buck” and won an NBA title alongside Lew Cindor in 1971. He was named an All-Star in 1969 and tallied 9,169 points career points. His number 14 jersey was immortalized by the team in 1976.
4. Michael Redd
Although his career was cut short by injuries, Michael Redd was indeed one of the best pure shooters in the league at height of his powers.
The 6-foot-6 gunslinger is widely remembered for his left-handed slingshot-like release, which oftentimes found the bottom of the net.
Picked 43rd overall by Milwaukee in the 2000 draft, Redd would emerge out of Ray Allen’s shadows and was named an All-Star in 2004. His best statistical year came in 2006-07 when he notched 26.7 points per game and set a Bucks' record for most points in a game with 57. Redd was also a part of the Team USA “Redeem Team” that won gold in the 2008 Olympics.
Redd has career averages of 19.0 points in 629 games and was a 38 percent career shooter from past the arc.
Some may argue that Khris Middleton should go higher on this list. The Bucks did sign him to a five-year, $178M contract last year, so he’ll have plenty of opportunities to become the best shooting guard in franchise history.
Like Redd, Middleton was also a second-round pick and had to prove himself deserving of minutes in the big leagues. The 6-foot-7 swingman has been a pillar of consistency since joining Milwaukee in 2013.
Middleton has been the prototype of what a modern 3-and-D player should be. The 28-year-old has proven to be one of the best two-players in the league and has been rewarded with an All-Star selection for the past two seasons.
He wasn’t much of a shooter when he first came in, but Middleton has continually worked on his jumper and enjoyed a 37.8 percent success rate from deep prior to the suspension of the season. More importantly, Middleton is comfortable playing second fiddle to Antetokounmpo and is a big reason why the Bucks are championship-favorites this year.
2. Ray Allen
Before Ray Allen drained championship-winning shots for the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, he began his career with the Bucks. He was known more for his athleticism back then putting defenders on posters with his aerial assault.
Allen spent seven seasons in Milwaukee, while his first three All-Star appearances were under the Bucks banner. He powered the Bucks to consecutive playoff appearances during that stretch, capped off by an Eastern Conference Finals trip in 2001.
He still holds the record for 3-pointers made in franchise history, knocking down 1,051 shots.
1. Sidney Moncrief
Moncrief may not be a household name but he surely belongs in Milwaukee’s best-of-the-best list. The 6-foot-3 combo guard spent 10 of his 11-year pro career with the Bucks. What makes Moncrief the franchise’s All-Time best shooting guard was his ability to play both sides of the ball at a high level.
Although often undersized by the bigger two guards in the league, Moncrief was the league’s first-ever Defensive Player of the Year winner, nabbing the award twice in 1983 and 1984. He joins fellow legends Michael Jordan and Gary Payton as the only three guards to ever receive the recognition. Moncrief even made the NBA All-Defensive Team four times.
Moncrief has career averages of 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on top of five All-Star selections. His number 4 hangs high up the rafters in Fiserv Forum and was given the ultimate recognition last year when he joined the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
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