I’m getting all verklempt just writing this first sentence. It’s happened, folks: my expectations have gone out to the stratosphere. I’m generally a pretty level-headed fella, but how can you expect me to be unbiased when it comes to these 2017-18 Young Bucks? This is why it’s time to become a real Bucks Fan this season:
We have a young, talented, experienced team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo:
– Only player to ever finish top-20 in all major stats in one season
– 2017 NBA’s Most Improved Player
– 22 years old
Malcolm Brogdon:
– 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year
– 24 years old
Thon Maker:
– “does fingertip push-up every time he misses a jumper in practice”
– Still 7’1″
– 20 years old
Khris Middleton:
– Healthy
– 26 years old
DJ Wilson:
– Great hair
– Big Ten baller
– 21 years old
Oh, and Kevin Durant thinks Giannis might end up being the GOAT.
Yeah, this is a different starting feeling than back in 2015.
We’re celebrating 50 years of the Milwaukee Bucks Organization.
It’s been half a century since the NBA took an expansion chance on Milwaukee, and the organization will be spending all season playing throwback-boogie. Get ready to “Return to Mecca“, hopefully with the corresponding success on today’s court.
Still trending in Milwaukee:
MECCA pic.twitter.com/IyYDpjyThF
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 11, 2017
It’s the Wisconsin Herd G-League team’s inaugural season.
Though they didn’t take our name suggestions, the D-League G-League added a Bucks-affiliate this year with the Oshkosh-based Wisconsin Herd. Be on the lookout for cheap tickets to see almost-NBA caliber players a short drive up nort’.
And it’s our last year in the old stadium.
Though the official name hasn’t been announced quite yet, the finishing touches on the outside of the new Bucks Arena are being put into place. You can already see the developmental impact the stadium is having on these revitalized Haymarket and Pabst neighborhoods: a massive new Milwaukee Brewing Company is rising to the north, near to the just-opened Pabst Milwaukee Brewery. The “live block” is soon to follow. Take one last lap around the nearly bubbler-less BMO Harris Bradley Center, for nostalgia.
Okay, I know that there are still some major concerns: Jason Terry (aka Terr-Bear) is still on the team dragging up our average age, Jabari Parker is out for half the season, Giannis’ jump-shot remains a head-scratcher, and Khris Middleton is statistically a slowpoke. Honestly, I cherry-picked those because COME ON THE BUCKS ARE GOING TO BE GREAT.
We took a solid road win from Boston to start the season right, let’s not drop the home opener Friday night to Please-Leaveland.
Two Bucks fans and an intruder. All photos by Joe Powell for The Squeaky Curd.