Being a Milwaukee Bucks fan is quite a rollercoaster ride. From the highs of the 2021 championship title to numerous lows and decisions that have long caused discomfort, like a bad case of indigestion. Every sports organization has its share of missteps, but the Bucks, over the last two decades, have managed to collect a sizeable number of true blunders: those personnel and strategic decisions that fans would prefer to forget, yet journalists bring up at every opportunity with an ironic smile. It
is time to examine the 15 biggest—in my opinion—mistakes of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2002 to 2025.
You might ask, why the specific year of 2002, for our story on the Bucks’ errors. Well, the reason is quite personal. You see, 2002 was when I started my university studies in Poland. I was studying English philology, which means a lot of Noam Chomsky’s generative grammar, US history, and literature. It was a time very different from today: basketball was truly my obsession, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the early 2000s, Polish basketball fans were just starting. There were some basketball forums and simple websites appearing, but it was hard to find other fans for one specific NBA team, especially a team not always in the Finals spotlight. It felt like looking for something very rare. I wanted a team that didn’t have many fans in Poland. A team whose stories I could truly make my own. This way, I could be far from the usual talks about the Lakers or the Bulls. This is how I found the Milwaukee Bucks.
Because of my English studies, I was very interested in translating articles from English to Polish. Back then, there were no online translators, no simple copy-paste. It was a really engaging process. I would sit with a printed-out article, a heavy Polish-English dictionary and thesaurus, a highlighter, a pen, and a pencil. For hours, you would work on each sentence. You would look at the grammar, think about the right words, and slowly build the text in Polish. These habits, I must say, are still with me today. They shaped how I work, not just with translating, but with any detailed analysis.
So, in 2002, I truly started to support the Milwaukee Bucks. Through good times and bad times. My loyalty became strong: for some time, off and on, I even ran a website about the Bucks. But because of other duties—work, family, and children—I was never able to dedicate myself to it as much as it deserved.
And that’s why, for me, 2002 is not just a random start for this analysis. It’s the exact moment when my personal journey with the Milwaukee Bucks truly began.
We will count down from 15th to first, where the absolute peak of inglorious blunders awaits us. Sit back comfortably and prepare for a journey through years of unsuccessful drafts, disastrous trades, contracts that cry out for vengeance, and other stories spiced with a touch of sarcasm and bitterness. Here are the 15 biggest Bucks blunders—a cautionary tale, but also for entertainment because, after all, you have to laugh not to go mad.
15. $50m down the drain, aka Miles Plumlee’s contract (2016)
Let’s start with an example that proves sometimes in the NBA, you can win the lottery, despite poor on-court performance. In the summer of 2016, when the league was flooded with a freshly inflated salary cap, many clubs were handing out multi-million-dollar deals left and right. The Milwaukee Bucks decided not to be outdone and cast a favorable eye on Miles Plumlee—a center who, over the previous season, was averaging a “staggering” 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. In normal circumstances, the statistics of a backup who barely scores three points per game do not compel one to reach for their wallet. But that summer, logic went on vacation to Świnoujście, and the Bucks offered Plumlee a four-year contract worth 50 million dollars. Yes—fifty million for a third-string player primarily known for being one of the three Plumlee brothers in the NBA (and by no means the best one).
Bucks fans were tearing their hair out, and analysts rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Did someone in Milwaukee confuse Miles’ cash figures with his brother Mason’s highlights? Or perhaps the Bucks’ general manager was watching old footage of Miles’ university exploits, not realizing that was five years and several clubs ago? The contract remained a fact—Plumlee suddenly became a rich man, and in Milwaukee, a miraculous transformation into a productive big man was expected. Unfortunately, as was easily predictable, no miracle occurred. Plumlee averaged around 2.0 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in the 2016–17 season, completely failing to justify his enormous salary. With each statistically invisible night, fan frustration grew, and they ironically chanted slogans like “we want value!” whenever Plumlee appeared on the court.
The situation became so awkward for the club that after just a year and a half, the Bucks found a way to shed the problem. In February 2017, they traded Plumlee to Charlotte, taking back two other expiring contracts (Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes). In other words, they gave him away for a bag of chips. While they managed to free themselves from further years of overpaying Miles, a bitter taste remained. The Bucks had to pay for Hawes’ contract buyout for a few years (stretch provision and similar financial tricks), which somewhat limited their flexibility.
Plumlee’s contract went down in history as one of the most confusing club moves of the decade. It was difficult to defend it with even the strangest statistic—unless we count the average earnings per point per game, in which Miles set a world record. This mistake taught the Bucks (and the entire league) that giving big money to mediocre players after one decent month of play is like handing out Oscars to extras for appearing in the background of a scene. Well, $50m is not pocket change, and Plumlee should erect a statue of former Bucks GM John Hammond in his garden.
If you ever have a bad day, think of Miles Plumlee: the guy made a fortune, though he never came close to the level of even a solid backup. For the Bucks, however, it was a lesson that sometimes financial restraint pays off. It’s a shame they had to learn this in such a costly way—but don’t worry, this is just the beginning of the list; there will be even more expensive and painful mistakes ahead in terms of sports.
14. The phantom of the great Thon: drafting Thon Maker with the 10th pick (2016)
The NBA Draft is like a lottery, but some try to win it with overly risky tickets. In 2016, the Milwaukee Bucks held the 10th pick in the draft and decided to go all-in—they selected Thon Maker, a 19-year-old (allegedly) prospect from Sudan/Australia, whom most scouts knew primarily from… YouTube clips. Maker gained fame as a tall (7’0”) kid with excellent mobility who supposedly hit threes in practice, dribbled like a small forward, and blocked shots like a true center. The problem was that most of these revelations came from heavily edited videos and rumors circulating online. Furthermore, there were serious doubts about Maker’s true age—some suggested he might be 2–3 years older than stated (which makes a huge difference for a basketball player whose potential is based on development). His camp, however, promised golden mountains, and the Bucks—likely encouraged by the personal enthusiasm of then-coach Jason Kidd—made a selection that many experts euphemistically described as “bold.”
On the draft board, there were still names of more proven and promising players, such as Domantas Sabonis, who was selected right after Thon with the 11th pick and, as we know, grew into a league star (a multiple-time All-Star and a pillar of subsequent teams). The Bucks, however, believed Maker was a hidden diamond. Unfortunately, it quickly turned out he was more like a millstone dragging them down.
The initial summer practices and preseason games still sparked some hope—Thon hit threes, ran like a gazelle, and seemed to have the energy to learn the game. His rookie season in 2016–17, however, started very slowly. Kidd did give him a spot in the starting five towards the end of the season (quite surprisingly), but it was more of a psychological move than a reward for form. Maker’s statistics from his first year: 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Nothing to write home about. In his second season, he played a bit more, but progress was cosmetic (4.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG). Sure, he had a great game in the 2018 playoffs against the Celtics when he suddenly blocked 5 shots in one game, causing havoc in the paint—but that was a flash that rather highlighted his everyday mediocrity than convinced anyone there was more to him.
His shortcomings became increasingly evident. Physically, a skinny-as-a-stick Thon allowed stronger opponents to push him around. Technically, his shot was erratic, and his coordination left much to be desired. Mentally, he often looked lost in plays, reacting with delay. It’s hardly surprising, given how modest his pre-NBA experience was. Meanwhile, Sabonis—the one the Bucks could have drafted instead of Maker—blossomed first in Oklahoma City and then in Indiana as a strong power forward/center with excellent rebounding and high basketball IQ. The comparison between the two became increasingly painful for Bucks fans: Sabonis was racking up double-doubles like clockwork, while Maker was logging... another DNP in the game protocol.
The Thon Maker story ended rather ugly in Milwaukee. Dissatisfied with his diminishing role, he (through his agent) requested a trade in the 2018–19 season. He had ambitions to play more—a paradox, as he hadn’t proven he deserved it. The Bucks granted his wish and sent him to Detroit (as part of a three-team trade) in exchange for Stanley Johnson. Maker did not have a career after leaving Milwaukee—he similarly warmed the bench in Detroit, then bounced around the league’s “minimums” and eventually fell out of the NBA before five years had passed since the draft. In the background, there were more reports suggesting he might actually be older than his reported age of 23 on the day his contract wasn’t extended.
For the Bucks, drafting Thon Maker remains a cautionary tale against overestimating “soft” factors and pretty stories in the draft. When we sarcastically replay those famous clips today of Thon supposedly outplaying a chair in practice (yes, there was such a legend—that he trained one-on-one with a chair, which Bill Simmons used to ridicule at every opportunity), it’s easy to sigh: how could we have fallen for that? Well, potential sometimes blinds common sense. The Bucks bought a pig in a poke—or rather, a scrawny, useless guy in a tall body—and missed out on acquiring a valuable player.
The bottom line? Maker with the Bucks: no season with even 5.0 points per game, no game element mastered enough to become a reliable rotation player. Meanwhile, others in that draft shone: Sabonis became an All-Star, Caris LeVert (20th pick) scored 18 PPG, even Pascal Siakam (27th pick) became MIP and an NBA champion. In Milwaukee, a feeling of disappointment and a wasted pick remained. Placed 14 on our list, because there were more spectacular mistakes, but this one has something symbolic about it: we believed in a phantom of greatness that was never there.
13. The joy and downfall of high-flying Larry: The Larry Sanders saga (2013–2015)
This story started so beautifully… In 2010, the Bucks drafted Larry Sanders with the 15th pick, a skinny, raw, but incredibly athletic big man from VCU. For the first two years, nothing suggested a revelation—Sanders mostly committed fouls and got frustrated, though he did have spectacular blocks. Then suddenly, in the 2012–13 season, Larry’s defensive talent exploded: an average of 2.8 blocks and nearly a double-double (9.8 PPG and 9.5 RPG) per game. Sanders grew into one of the best rim protectors in the league, a candidate for the Most Improved Player award, and overall a bright spot on a mediocre Bucks team. He was energetic, spirited, and fans loved his gesture after a blocked shot: a hand lowering an invisible “curtain” (symbolically: end of the show). It seemed Milwaukee finally had a center for years—a guy who might not become the next Mutombo, but would be a solid defensive pillar, perhaps even a Defensive Player of the Year in the future.
The club didn’t hesitate: in the summer of 2013, Sanders was offered a contract extension—4 years, $44m. Larry signed, and the Bucks breathed a sigh of relief, convinced it was a safe investment. After all, who wouldn’t give that kind of money to a player averaging almost three blocks per game at barely 24 years old? Everything was going according to plan… for a few weeks. Unfortunately, this is where the “downfall” part begins.
The new 2013–14 season brought a dramatic turn. First, Sanders broke his thumb as a result of—get this—a fight in a nightclub. Yes, he got into a brawl in a Milwaukee venue, reportedly over spilled champagne or other trivial matters. It ended with thumb surgery and several missed games. When he returned, the Bucks’ game was already falling apart (that season they ultimately finished with the league’s worst record, 15–67), but glimpses of Larry’s old form were expected. Meanwhile, he played inconsistently, and in one game, he took a powerful elbow to the eye from James Harden, resulting in a fractured orbital bone. Another break. Bad luck? Yes, but at the same time, disturbing signals emerged—that Sanders was not fully committed, that off-court problems were overwhelming him.
In the meantime, he also received a suspension for marijuana (a positive test—5 games out). He finished the season with only 23 appearances and poor stats (7.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG). Well, it happens—as some thought. As long as the 2014–15 season brings a rebirth. No such luck. In the following season, Larry played 27 games at a very average level, and then… suddenly disappeared from the team in January 2015. Literally—he left the team, asked for a break, then announced he no longer felt a passion for the game and had mental health issues. The Bucks were in shock, as were the fans.
On one hand, empathy: Sanders openly spoke about anxiety, depression, and burnout, which was not yet common in the NBA. On the other hand, frustration: the team is paying someone millions, and he prefers to raise fish and make music (as Sanders declared a desire to develop artistic passions). Ultimately, the club and player reached an agreement: the contract was bought out in February 2015. Larry waived part of the money owed, but the Bucks still had to pay him a significant sum spread over several years (for several seasons, his amount was accounted for as dead money on their cap sheet). It was an investment disaster: a player paid as a future defensive star left at age 26, having played barely 50 games after signing the deal. No trace of the promised “big man of the future.”
The story of Larry Sanders is material for a separate book chapter (perhaps even a film). In the context of our list of blunders, it’s a case where the mistake wasn’t obvious at the time it was made—who could have predicted such a sudden career collapse? But from the perspective of the Bucks organization, one could ask: should they not have better investigated the player’s character and surroundings before investing $44m in him? There were signs that Sanders had temper problems (e.g., he often got into verbal altercations with referees: once, while ironically applauding referees’ decisions, he was ejected from a game, and as he left, he blew ironic kisses to the crowd). Perhaps they could have sensed beforehand that he was a ticking bomb?
It’s easy to say in hindsight. In any case, the Bucks were left in the lurch—without their defensive anchor, but with a hole in their budget and ridicule from the media. Sanders tried a brief comeback in subsequent years (five games in Cleveland in 2017) but quickly disappeared again. Today, he is remembered as one of Milwaukee’s biggest “what ifs.” Had he maintained his form and development, he could have been a cornerstone of the team built around young Giannis. Instead, he became a cautionary tale against excessive optimism.
From our ranking’s perspective, this is an unusual mistake, as it resulted from a combination of events and personal problems, not a purely athletic talent evaluation error. Nevertheless, four years of paying someone to sit at home and meditate instead of playing under the basket is a spectacular misstep. Number 13 on the list—because although Sanders once brought us joy with his blocks, the ending of this story was painful and costly for the Bucks.
Stay tuned over the coming weeks for 13 through number one, as we count down the Bucks’ biggest blunders.
More from brewhoop.com:
- Bucks vs. Bulls Final Score: Milwaukee Buries the Bulls with Strong Second Half, 116-96
- Bucks vs. Timberwolves Final Score: A Twin City Trouncing 116-99
- The new CBA and how it may affect Milwaukee
- Bucks vs. Wizards Recap: Giannis scores career-high 39 in dominating win, 123-96
- Bucks vs. Pistons Final Score: Milwaukee Pounds Pistons in 119-94 Drubbing
