Our current playoff-caliber Milwaukee NBA team could rightly be referred to as the “Young” Bucks, considering the average age (23 and change) of our starting lineup. Some of these players and those on the bench are still pretty raw, and perhaps could’ve benefited from a stint in the NBA’s Development League (D-League).
In fact, 20-year-old Thon Maker probably would’ve ended up there, according to Coach Kidd (aka Daddy Double D), if the Bucks had such an affiliate. As was announced recently, the new owners felt a D-League expansion team for the Bucks was a priority to help develop our young talent, and have selected Oshkosh as its home.
Some $17 million in funding later, ground has already broken on the 3500-seat arena on the shores of Lake Winnebago, with the hopes of being finished in time for the upcoming 2017-18 season.
Though it’s already been announced that the D-League will soon be renamed the G-League, thanks to a sponsorship by Gatorade, what hasn’t been named yet is the Buck’s team itself. Speculation time!
The Fox Valley Flyers
Once a year, tiny Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world, as the city hosts the annual EAA AirVenture showcase. The history and businesses surrounding aviation are too juicy to pass up.
The Oshkosh Ice Shoves
Lake Winnebago doesn’t care for you silly warm-blooded land animals: it’s coming for you. How great would it be when a member of “The Shoves” got a technical for shoving.
The Oshkosh Slosh
Besides sounding like a phrase only Wisconsinites could love, The Slosh pays homage to the local pastime of drinking way too much.
O-Town
In honor of the greatest boy band of them all, because for this team it’s “all, or nothing at all”. By the way, did anyone else notice the lead-singer in the above video is wearing a Brett Favre jersey? Local connections!
PS: O-Town will actually be performing not too far away from Oshkosh at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine (aka Powelltine) THIS SATURDAY!
The Valley’s Vander Blues
The Marquette alum who left after his junior year for the NBA draft…before not getting drafted…is currently tearing up the D-League in LA. I say pick up this 2016-17 MVP for next season and make it his team.
Regardless of what team name they ultimately go with (and you can enter your own ideas here), I think we can all agree that they’ll miss out on a golden opportunity if their mascot is not named Lake WinneBango and/or the halftime shot isn’t for your chance to Win-a-bagel.