For all those fortunate enough to witness it, game three between the Bucks and Celtics this year was extremely memorable. Down 0-2, Milwaukee stampeded to a 116-92 win behind an enormous run of fan emotion. But the true MVP was not Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, or Eric Bledsoe, although all played quite well. Rather, it may have been Brandon Jennings, who scored all of two points in five minutes. Although now playing in St. Petersburg, Russia, Jennings leaves an oral legacy that lives on long after his effective NBA play ceased. Instead of his on-court performance, it’s his infamous “Bucks in six” prediction that, while curious at the time, will jolt Forum fans into a frenzy for years.
The 2013 Bucks season will be best remembered, of course, for the drafting of Giannis. But what may eventually be forgotten is that the Greek Freak was not a lottery pick. That’s because the Bucks, while only 38-44, were able to beat out Philadelphia for the last playoff berth in the east. Their “reward” was a first-round series against LeBron James and the 66-win Miami Heat. Jennings was on record for being unusually optimistic for an eighth seed, however, boldly and famously predicting “bucks in six”:
Unfortunately, Jennings looked rather foolish when the Heat easily swept the Bucks. But Milwaukee, five years later, clearly had a legitimate chance to win. Judging by the reaction on Twitter, Jennings had unintentionally created a pop culture sensation. Even the Bucks’ Senior VP bit on the soundbite’s hook:
But what will become of the rallying cry going forward? Even this spring, fans were unsure:
Falling behind 2-3 didn’t deter Bucks MC’s; rather, they just fudged Jennings’ words a bit to “Bucks in seven!”
Although Milwaukee came up a bit short this April, Jennings’ legacy lives on. Playoff games in the Forum will contain some variance of the call to action until it’s inevitably fulfilled. And even beyond Milwaukee’s long-awaited playoff win, Bucks cheermasters will do well to use the jeer turned cheer to further invigorate an already rowdy Cream City fanbase. And who knows? If Giannis’s Gang keeps fighting up the eastern conference, fans will honestly be able to taunt opponents on the road with a “bucks in four!”
