After a 13-year hiatus, professional basketball made its triumphant return to Milwaukee on January 22, 1968, with the official awarding of an NBA expansion franchise. This event marked a new chapter for the city's sports landscape, filling a void left when the Milwaukee Hawks relocated to St. Louis in 1955. The new franchise was granted to Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services, a business group led by prominent figures Wesley Pavlon and Marvin
Fishman, who were instrumental in bringing the NBA back to Wisconsin.
The Ownership and the Vision
Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services, often shortened to Milwaukee Pro, was the entity responsible for the new NBA team. Wesley Pavlon and Marvin Fishman, as the heads of this group, took on the significant task of establishing a competitive franchise from the ground up. Their vision was not just to bring a team to Milwaukee, but to create one that would resonate with the local community and eventually achieve success in the league. This commitment was evident in their early decisions, particularly involving the public in the team's identity.
The return of an NBA team was a major development for Milwaukee, signaling renewed interest and investment in professional sports within the city. The ownership group's efforts to secure the franchise and then engage the community from the very beginning set a positive tone for the team's future. This foundational period under Pavlon and Fishman was critical in laying the administrative and community-relations groundwork for the Milwaukee Bucks.
A Community-Driven Name: The "Bucks" Story
One of the most enduring legacies of the team's creation was the naming process, which heavily involved the Milwaukee community. Over 40,000 fans participated in a contest to name the new franchise, demonstrating an overwhelming enthusiasm for the return of NBA basketball. While "Robins" was the most popular submission, the owners ultimately chose "Bucks," the second-most favored name.
The decision to go with "Bucks" was a deliberate nod to Wisconsin's natural heritage, specifically referencing the white-tailed deer, the state's wild animal. This choice was famously championed by fan R. D. Trebilcox, who described bucks as "spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile" – qualities that perfectly aligned with the dynamic nature of basketball. Trebilcox's contribution was recognized with the gift of a new car, an act that further endeared the new franchise to its fanbase and highlighted the importance of community involvement in its early days.
The Inaugural Season: Setting the Stage
The Milwaukee Bucks played their first NBA regular-season game on October 16, 1968, against the Chicago Bulls. This historic debut, though attended by a modest crowd of 8,467 people, marked the official start of the team's journey in the league. The inaugural season, as is often the case for expansion teams, presented significant challenges on the court. The Bucks concluded their first year with a record of only 27 wins.
Despite the limited success in terms of wins and losses, the 1968-1969 season was crucial for establishing the team's presence and beginning the process of building a roster. Players like Jon McGlocklin, who was selected in the expansion draft and later became the franchise's first All-Star, began to lay the groundwork for future competitiveness. The return of NBA basketball to Milwaukee, spearheaded by dedicated ownership and embraced by an engaged community, set the stage for the team's eventual rise to prominence.
