The Milwaukee Bucks have risen from NBA irrelevance to being a global brand. This can be attributed to their franchise superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks have had two eras which can be mainly attributed to the two MVPs on their team — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and now Antetokounmpo.
Over the last several years, the Milwaukee Bucks have garnered the most playoff wins and most regular season wins in the NBA and it’s not been particularly close. Ever since Giannis broke out and won his first MVP, the Bucks have always been a top three seed in the east. In 2024, the Bucks will be looking to win their second championship in four years as they gear up for yet another deep playoff run.
How many times have the Bucks made the playoffs?
In 56 seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks have made the playoffs a total of 35 times. Seven of these came when Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson were leading the team. In the last nine seasons, the Bucks have made the playoffs eight times.
This has coincided with the rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo and in the last five seasons, they have made the Eastern Conference Finals twice, winning the NBA championship in 2021. This year, they have added superstar Damian Lillard to their team to bolster their backcourt and give Giannis some much-needed scoring help and a star to rely on in the toughest of moments.
Milwaukee Bucks Playoff Record
The Milwaukee Bucks have a 150-156 record in the playoffs, a losing record given mainly to their place in NBA mediocrity for many years. In recent memory, the Bucks have a winning record and have had multiple deep playoff runs. This has included some fierce battles between their most noted rivals the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.
The Bucks and Celtics have faced each other in the playoffs three times in the last six seasons, with the Celtics coming victorious in two of those series. The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks have also faced each other three times in the last six seasons, with the Heat also winning two of those series. This playoff run is important for the Bucks as they want to dispel their playoff demons by looking to take out the Heat and the Celtics.
Number of Conference Championships Won
The Milwaukee Bucks have won the conference championship and represented the Eastern Conference three times — 1971, 1974, and 2021. The Bucks have also made the conference finals nine times, most notably in 2001 and 2019, where they were favored to win the series, but went down in seven and six games respectively.
The 2019 conference finals loss still haunts the Bucks as they had a 2-0 lead and then lost four straight games to the Toronto Raptors depriving the franchise their first finals appearance since 1974.
Number of NBA Championships Won
The Milwaukee Bucks have won two championships in franchise history. One in 1971 and the other in 2021. Their most recent championship in 2021 ended a 50-year championship drought as Giannis Antetokounmpo ended years of misery for Bucks fans and cemented his name in Bucks lore as one of the greatest to ever don a Milwaukee Bucks jersey.
| Year | Head Coach | Opponent | Final Score |
| 1971 | Larry Costello | Baltimore Bullets | 4-0 |
| 2021 | Mike Budenholzer | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 |
Milwaukee Bucks Last Playoff Appearance
The last time the Milwaukee Bucks made the NBA playoffs was in 2023, when they lost to the Miami Heat in the first round in five games. This was a gut-wrenching loss for the Bucks as they were the first seed and it was only the third time where a one seed lost to the eighth seed in a seven-game playoff series. This prompted the Bucks to make some changes and they decided to move from the championship point guard Jrue Holiday to get superstar Damian Lillard.
What is the biggest playoff comeback in the Bucks franchise history?
In the 2021 NBA Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks completed a 2-0 finals comeback to win the championship. It was only the second time in NBA Finals history that a team had erased a 2-0 deficit. In the same playoff run, the Bucks erased a 2-0 deficit against the Brooklyn Nets and won the series in seven games.
FAQs on Milwaukee Bucks Playoff History
A. The last time the Bucks were in the NBA Finals was in 2021.
A. The Bucks greatest rivals are the Heat and the Celtics.
A. The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship twice, in 1971 and 2021.
A. The Milwaukee Bucks have won 150 playoff games in franchise history as of March 2024.
