New Books Network Jordan Treske, "Building the Milwaukee Bucks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and the Rapid Rise of an NBA Franchise, 1968-1975" (McFarland, 2025)
Apr 8, 2026
Jordan Treske, author and podcaster who studies Milwaukee Bucks history, walks through the team’s lightning-fast rise from expansion franchise to 1971 champions. He covers the coin flip that landed Kareem, Oscar Robertson’s arrival, Larry Costello and Wayne Embry’s leadership. He also traces Milwaukee’s sports identity, roster decisions, and why greatness proved fleeting.
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How Kareem Changed The Bucks Overnight
- Landing Lew Alcindor (Kareem) immediately transformed the Bucks from a typical expansion trajectory into a franchise-altering force.
- The Bucks entered the NBA in 1968 and a coin-flip draft in 1969 gave them Alcindor, setting up rapid competitive ascent.
Larry Costello Built The Early Winning Culture
- The 1968 expansion team showed early promise under Larry Costello before Kareem arrived, planting seeds of a winning culture.
- Costello built cohesion with veteran pickup players and set a competitive baseline the franchise amplified after drafting Kareem.
Oscar Robertson Hitching His Wagon To Kareem
- Oscar Robertson joined immediately after the 1970 playoff exit, choosing Milwaukee to extend his prime and chase a title.
- The trade was swift: losses to the Knicks were followed almost immediately by Robertson hitching his future to Kareem and the Bucks.
