Who are the Bucks’ Biggest Rivals Now?

Wisconsin has some of the most historic rivalries in all of sports. 

Packers-Bears. Brewers-Cubs. Badgers-Gophers. Heck let’s throw in the Green Bay Blizzard-Iowa Barnstormers rivalry too (If you don’t know the Green Bay Blizzard check ‘em out).

However, with the Milwaukee Bucks, a single rival is harder to pin down (as seen by some of your responses to our tweet).

No Border Battle?

A casual might instinctively jump to say the Chicago Bulls. Makes sense right? It’s still a border battle. We all still have the fond memory of the most exciting moment in game 6 of the 2015 NBA playoffs, where Giannis Antetokounmpo embraced Mike Dunleavy Jr with a big ole’ “hug”, out of nowhere.

Or maybe you thought it was a great idea to take your Illinois friends to a game at the Bradley Center, only for the Bucks to lose badly as they gloat the entire way home while your 13-year-old self fights back tears.

The Bucks-Bulls rivalry will always be present, but it just isn’t as prominent as one would think. The last time the Bulls won a season series against the Bucks dates to the 2015-16 season.

With the combination of dominance from the Bucks, the most recent playoff series win from the 2022 playoffs, and the Bears only beating the Packers four times since 2010, it’s hard to imagine a true rivalry at this point. Oh sorry, couldn’t resist the mentioning of the Packers-Bears rivalry.

The Bucks’ Real Rivals

So, who are the teams this season that the Bucks will treat each regular season game as if it were the playoffs?

Three teams come to mind right off the bat: The Boston Celtics, The Miami Heat, and The Philadelphia 76ers.

You may be shocked that there is no mention of the Indiana Pacers. Well, they gained an honorable mention for this past season. But when you have the easiest path to beat an injury-ridden iBucks team and still get taken six games, you aren’t going to be near the top of the list. Enjoy your ABA titles.

Getting Scorched by the Heat

Getting back on topic, why do the Bucks have such vitriol for the Heat? They have only met each other in the playoffs four times.

Well, two out of the last three times they have met them in postseason play, the Bucks just completely collapsed (a gentleman’s sweep in the 2020 bubble season and again in 2023). The Bucks were the number one seed overall in each of these series, certainly destined on paper for better than a first and second-round exit.

The Bucks just can’t seem to get that monkey off their back that is the Miami Heat. For the diehards out there, they’ll remember too, how “Bucks in Six” was born in 2013… which preceded them getting swept against the Lebron and Dwayne Wade-led Heat champs to be.

Despite Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro having their ties to Wisconsin, getting dubs against the Heat is always extremely satisfying. 

Agitation out East

Now let’s move on to the Sixers and Celtics. Both franchises are equipped with some of the least likable fans in sports. Sixer fans have more of a reason to be miserable. With their last chip coming in 1983 with Dr. J and The Process falling flat on its face before an ECF appearance, one can sympathize with the average Philly fan (at least a little bit).

On the other hand, you have the Celtics. Taking one look at their Twitter/X fan base you’d think they’d be the most oppressed 18-time champs the world has ever known.

 Jrue Holiday made sure that the Dame bliss was short-lived last summer when he was traded to the now-defending champion Boston Celtics. Though there is no ill will toward Jrue, it just adds to the bitterness in the rivalry. Especially because C fans continue to say, “tHAnK YoU BuCKs fORgiViNG uS JrUe.”

The Bucks only Finals series loss came against the Celtics in 1974(Bucks were in the Western Conference) as they took that series to 7 games. In the 1987 Conference Semis, the Bucks had another game 7 they lost to the C’s, where Celtics forward Kevin McHale forcefully grabbed a Bucks fan by their tie. The Bucks wouldn’t get revenge on the C’s in the playoffs for another 32 years.

As for the Sixers rivalry with the Bucks, how can you forget Giannis sitting on the 76ers logo at center court on St Patrick’s Day 2021 or “Ladder Gate”. From a Bucks historical perspective though, the Sixers rivalry is a little more deeply rooted than the current drama. Philly is the most familiar face of any Bucks opponent, as Milwaukee has faced the Sixers nine times in postseason play. Looking back to the Bucks’ second season in the league, their very first playoff opponent and series win in franchise history was against the Sixers, who they beat 4-1 in 1970. Let’s not talk about 2001 though. Please.

A Tricky Question

It’s quite a tricky question.

As of right now, Jimmy Butler always seems to explode against the Bucks whenever the opportunity arises (Both in Chicago and Miami).

The Sixers aren’t any better. Whether it be his less-than-humble attitude or flopping antics, the Joel Embiid Show feels like an episode of the Deadliest Catch whenever he comes to town.

And then you have the Celtics who just…well c’mon, are the Celtics.

For most Bucks fans, it comes down to a tie between the Heat and the Celtics. Maybe it’s a little heavy on the recency bias, but that’s kind of how NBA rivalries work. The Sixers can have their in-season rivalry with the Bucks, but when you have not met in the playoffs in the past 20-plus years, the other teams are going to have an edge.

As of now, five of the seven combined matchups with the Celtics and Heat, are nationally televised–but regardless–circle in on those dates for some fantastic matchups.