Best draft picks in Milwaukee Bucks history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Milwaukee Bucks history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Robert Traylor
- Stacker score: 1.9
- Sixth overall pick in 1998
- Played two seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 4.8 PTS, 3.7 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.3 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 0.7 VORP
#49. Pat Cummings
- Stacker score: 2.2
- 59th overall pick in 1978
- Played three seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.6 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.6 win shares, -2.5 box plus/minus, -1.9 VORP
#48. Winston Garland
- Stacker score: 2.3
- 40th overall pick in 1987
- Career averages: 9.4 PTS, 2.8 REB, 4.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.2 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#47. George Johnson
- Stacker score: 2.3
- 12th overall pick in 1978
- Played one season with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.1 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#46. Jon Leuer
- Stacker score: 2.4
- 40th overall pick in 2011
- Played one season with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 3.8 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.2 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
#45. Dave Meyers
- Stacker score: 2.5
- Second overall pick in 1975
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 6.3 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.4 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
#44. Jabari Parker
- Stacker score: 2.6
- Second overall pick in 2014
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 5.5 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.8 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 2.5 VORP
#43. Mickey Davis
- Stacker score: 2.7
- 113th overall pick in 1972
- Played five seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 5.0 PTS, 2.7 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.9 win shares
#42. Edgar Jones
- Stacker score: 2.7
- 31st overall pick in 1979
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.0 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#41. Donte DiVincenzo
- Stacker score: 2.9
- 17th overall pick in 2018
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.1 PTS, 4.6 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.4 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 3.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2021 NBA Champ
#40. Jerry Reynolds
- Stacker score: 3.2
- 22nd overall pick in 1985
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.1 PTS, 3.0 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.5 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
#39. Joel Przybilla
- Stacker score: 3.2
- Ninth overall pick in 2000
- Played five seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 3.9 PTS, 6.2 REB, 0.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.0 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 0.8 VORP
#38. Todd Day
- Stacker score: 3.4
- Eighth overall pick in 1992
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 3.4 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.5 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 3.4 VORP
#37. Randy Breuer
- Stacker score: 3.5
- 18th overall pick in 1983
- Played seven seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 4.4 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.9 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 2.3 VORP
#36. T.J. Ford
- Stacker score: 3.8
- Eighth overall pick in 2003
- Played two seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 3.1 REB, 5.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.9 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 4.6 VORP
#35. John Henson
- Stacker score: 3.8
- 14th overall pick in 2012
- Played seven seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.7 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 3.4 VORP
#34. Fred Roberts
- Stacker score: 3.9
- 27th overall pick in 1982
- Played five seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.2 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 1.5 VORP
#33. Luc Mbah a Moute
- Stacker score: 4.0
- 37th overall pick in 2008
- Played five seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 4.1 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.0 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
#32. Jodie Meeks
- Stacker score: 4.6
- 41st overall pick in 2009
- Played one season with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 2.1 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.3 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2019 NBA Champ
#31. Ernie Grunfeld
- Stacker score: 4.9
- 11th overall pick in 1977
- Played two seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 2.6 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.0 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 4.9 VORP
#30. Tracy Murray
- Stacker score: 5.1
- 18th overall pick in 1992
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 2.5 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.1 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 5.8 VORP
#29. Ramon Sessions
- Stacker score: 5.5
- 56th overall pick in 2007
- Played three seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 10.3 PTS, 2.7 REB, 4.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 28.8 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 5.2 VORP
#28. Alton Lister
- Stacker score: 5.8
- 21st overall pick in 1981
- Played seven seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 6.6 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.6 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 3.1 VORP
#27. Quinn Buckner
- Stacker score: 5.8
- Seventh overall pick in 1976
- Played six seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 2.7 REB, 4.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.7 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 7.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1984 NBA Champ
--- 4x All-Defensive
#26. Bobby Phills
- Stacker score: 6.1
- 45th overall pick in 1991
- Career averages: 11.0 PTS, 3.1 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.2 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 7.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1995-96 All-Defensive
#25. Scott Skiles
- Stacker score: 6.2
- 22nd overall pick in 1986
- Played one season with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 2.5 REB, 6.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.4 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 6.7 VORP
#24. Voshon Lenard
- Stacker score: 6.5
- 46th overall pick in 1994
- Career averages: 11.9 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.6 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 7.9 VORP
#23. Greg Smith
- Stacker score: 6.7
- 50th overall pick in 1968
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 7.8 PTS, 6.2 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1971 NBA Champ
#22. Malcolm Brogdon
- Stacker score: 7.3
- 36th overall pick in 2016
- Played three seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 15.4 PTS, 4.2 REB, 4.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.0 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 10.0 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
- Accolades
--- 2016-17 ROY
#21. Swen Nater
- Stacker score: 7.3
- 16th overall pick in 1973
- Played one season with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 12.4 PTS, 11.6 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.9 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 7.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1979-80 TRB Champ
--- 1973-74 ROY
--- 2x All Star
#20. Kent Benson
- Stacker score: 7.3
- First overall pick in 1977
- Played three seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.1 PTS, 5.7 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.6 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 8.8 VORP
#19. Rafer Alston
- Stacker score: 7.5
- 39th overall pick in 1998
- Played three seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 2.8 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.9 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 9.6 VORP
#18. Brandon Jennings
- Stacker score: 7.9
- 10th overall pick in 2009
- Played five seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 3.0 REB, 5.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.9 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 11.8 VORP
#17. Vin Baker
- Stacker score: 8.6
- Eighth overall pick in 1993
- Played four seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 15.0 PTS, 7.4 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.0 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 5.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.6%
- Accolades
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 4x All Star
#16. Junior Bridgeman
- Stacker score: 8.6
- Eighth overall pick in 1975
- Played 10 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 13.6 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 45.0 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 8.3 VORP
#15. Ersan İlyasova
- Stacker score: 9.4
- 36th overall pick in 2005
- Played nine seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 48.8 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 9.0 VORP
#14. Glenn Robinson
- Stacker score: 9.8
- First overall pick in 1994
- Played eight seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 20.7 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 39.8 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 13.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2005 NBA Champ
--- 2x All Star
#13. Mario Elie
- Stacker score: 10.6
- 160th overall pick in 1985
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 48.9 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 12.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#12. Andrew Bogut
- Stacker score: 12.0
- First overall pick in 2005
- Played seven seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 9.6 PTS, 8.7 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.6 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 16.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2015 NBA Champ
--- 2010-11 BLK Champ
--- 2009-10 All-NBA
--- 2014-15 All-Defensive
#11. Paul Pressey
- Stacker score: 14.2
- 20th overall pick in 1982
- Played eight seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 10.6 PTS, 3.9 REB, 5.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 49.0 win shares, 2.6 box plus/minus, 22.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x All-Defensive
#10. Michael Redd
- Stacker score: 14.6
- 43rd overall pick in 2000
- Played 11 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 19.0 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 55.9 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 21.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2003-04 All-NBA
--- 1x All Star
#9. Tobias Harris
- Stacker score: 15.1
- 19th overall pick in 2011
- Played two seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 16.2 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 64.2 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 19.9 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#8. Marques Johnson
- Stacker score: 25.4
- Third overall pick in 1977
- Played seven seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 20.1 PTS, 7.0 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 79.8 win shares, 3.3 box plus/minus, 31.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 25.2%
- Accolades
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
#7. Sidney Moncrief
- Stacker score: 33.0
- Fifth overall pick in 1979
- Played 10 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 15.6 PTS, 4.7 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 90.3 win shares, 3.7 box plus/minus, 33.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x Def. POY
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 5x All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#6. Bob Dandridge
- Stacker score: 34.2
- 45th overall pick in 1969
- Played nine seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 18.5 PTS, 6.8 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 80.3 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1978-79 All-NBA
--- 1978-79 All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#5. Alex English
- Stacker score: 41.3
- 23rd overall pick in 1976
- Played two seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 21.5 PTS, 5.5 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 100.7 win shares, 2.0 box plus/minus, 38.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1982-83 Scoring Champ
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 8x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Stacker score: 44.9
- 15th overall pick in 2013
- Played 10 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 22.6 PTS, 9.6 REB, 4.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 96.1 win shares, 6.2 box plus/minus, 48.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 94.9%
- Accolades
--- 2021 NBA Champ
--- 2x MVP
--- 2020-21 Finals MVP
--- 2019-20 Def. POY
#3. Julius Erving
- Stacker score: 48.6
- 12th overall pick in 1972
- Career averages: 24.2 PTS, 8.5 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 106.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1983 NBA Champ
--- 4x MVP
--- 2x ABA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Ray Allen
- Stacker score: 55.1
- Fifth overall pick in 1996
- Played seven seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 18.9 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 145.1 win shares, 2.9 box plus/minus, 57.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 10x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Stacker score: 98.9
- First overall pick in 1969
- Played six seasons with Milwaukee Bucks
- Career averages: 24.6 PTS, 11.2 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 273.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 6x NBA Champ
--- 6x MVP
--- 2x Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
