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This pains with me every bone in my body to admit, but as play resumes, I’m cheering for the Milwaukee Bucks. My roommate is the most annoying Bucks fan in the world, but this is the truth.
When it comes down to it, it’s really simple, the Bucks winning should give hope to Timberwolves fans that somehow, someway, maybe, just maybe, the Timberwolves could eventually win an NBA Title in Minnesota.
The differences between the two franchises are abundant right now, but Milwaukee winning a championship really proves that the little guy can still win in this day and age.
The Bucks winning the championship would show that regardless of market size, if you build your organization the right way, anything is attainable. It starts in the front office, but also with an ownership group that is willing to spend the money to build a contending roster. Also, it helps to be self-aware enough to realize that they should trust their basketball operations people to make the basketball decisions.
The obvious caveat is that Milwaukee got lucky with what Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into. Yes, they get a ton of credit for scouting him and selecting him, but even they would admit they had no idea he’d eventually turn into the best player in the NBA.
Still, Milwaukee has hired a great front office who has in turn hired a good coach in Mike Budenholzer, as well as finding players that both complement their superstar and fit what Coach Bud wants to do on both ends of the floor.
To that note, even if there was some luck involved, the moves for Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez look pretty savvy, as does the decision to draft Donte DiVincenzo.
The common theme here is that there’s been synergy all the way from ownership on down to the players on the floor. That, more than anything (outside of having good players) is most important for any franchise.
On a different note, I would really appreciate national pundits being able to talk about just how good Giannis, Khris Middleton, and company are. I couldn’t care less to hear about Giannis’ impending free agency several years before he even reaches that point, especially when a supermax extension will no doubt be offered to him this offseason. This Bucks team is way too good to spend all of the air time discussing why their superstar should leave.
Can the Wolves get to the same point the Bucks are at? It’s near impossible to see how the current iteration gets there, but who knows. All I know is that I’m a dumb, stupid boy who is stuck rooting for Minnesota sports teams. For that reason, I need a Milwaukee Bucks championship to give me hope.