2000–01 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Bucks' 33rd season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Bucks acquired Lindsey Hunter from the Detroit Pistons, acquired Jason Caffey from the Golden State Warriors, acquired top draft pick Joel Przybilla from the Houston Rockets, and signed free agents Jerome Kersey and Mark Pope. The Bucks got off to a rough start losing nine of their first twelve games, but would win 23 of their next 29 games while posting an 8-game winning streak in January, and holding a 29–18 record at the All-Star break. The Bucks finished first place in the Central Division with a 52–30 record, the franchise's best record since 1985–86.

Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson both led the team in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game each, and were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, while Allen was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Allen also led the team with 1.5 steals per game, while Robinson contributed 6.9 rebounds per game, and Sam Cassell provided the team with 18.2 points and 7.6 assists per game. Off the bench, sixth man Tim Thomas averaged 12.6 points per game, while Hunter contributed 10.1 points per game, and Ervin Johnson led the team with 7.5 rebounds per game. Thomas also finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, led by the trio of Allen, Robinson and Cassell, the Bucks defeated the Orlando Magic in four games. It was the first time the Bucks made it out of the NBA playoffs' first round since 1988–89. In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they trailed 3–2 against the 6th-seeded Charlotte Hornets, but managed to win the series in seven games, advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 1986. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Bucks faced regular season MVP Allen Iverson and the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks took a 2–1 series lead, but would lose to the Sixers in seven games. Scott Williams, who had started every game during the Bucks' postseason run, was controversially suspended hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals series, when a flagrant one foul was upgraded to a flagrant two foul after the game had ended. The Sixers would reach the NBA Finals, but would lose in five games to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Following the season, Hunter was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, while Williams was dealt to the Denver Nuggets, and Kersey retired. Until 2019, the 2000–01 season was the last time the Bucks won 50 games, made it past the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and made it to the Eastern Conference finals.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Player Transactions Citation:

References

See also

• 2000–01 NBA season