Sports

Your memories from the Milwaukee Bucks winning the 2021 NBA title

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel · Jul 22, 2026 19:14 · 3 min read

Fans, including Ryan Wentland, center, of DeForest, with his girlfriend, Megan Evans, immediate left, and Evans' mother, Amy Hughes , left of Evans', both of Madison, cheer in the final moments in Deer District outside Fisrev Forum in Milwaukee during the Milwaukee Bucks 188-107 victory over the the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern conference finals on Saturday, July 3, 2021 to advance to first NBA Finals since 1974.

We asked readers what they remembered from the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks championship five years ago. Here's what they told us.

The five-year anniversary of the Milwaukee Bucks winning the 2021 NBA championship has come and gone, and it's a little bittersweet in the aftermath of Milwaukee trading franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. But the memories will endure forever for Milwaukee fans.

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski revisited many of those memories with new interviews from the players, coaches and others involved. They included chapters on P.J. Tucker, Mike Budenholzer, Game 6, the Jrue Holiday steal in Game 5, the workout that helped Giannis get back to game play.

We asked readers what they remembered about July 20, 2021, the day Milwaukee hoisted the trophy thanks to a Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. Here's what you told us:

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What do you remember from the night the Bucks won in Game 6 of the NBA Finals?

"Being at the game with my son and watching Giannis and the Bucks bring Milwaukee their first championship in 50 years." – Todd Marohl, Menomonee Falls
"My three kids and grandson being at the game together and the emotions of finally being on top after all the down years!! Special moment!" – Jamie Conom, Sun Prairie
"I was glad that they won and wondered if they could defend their title in a 'normal' season that wasn't affected by COVID-19." – Michael Izard, Middle River, Maryland
"Feeling like I was in 12 again in 1970-71. Was in the arena for that clincher. Had a sign [that said] Bullets are shot! Made the paper next day." – Jerry Vales, McHenry, Illinois
"I was at the game with my son, then age 25. It was the sports spectating event of our lives!" – Mike Peters, Oconomowoc
"Being able to attend the game with my son and seeing how charged up and excited the fans were both inside and outside Fiserv." – Tom Wimmer, Argonne
"I was there with my then 16-year-old son. We flew in from our home in Boulder, Colorado, to see Game 6 in person and oh was it worth the trip. Epic night!" – Jason Gerlach, Boulder, Colorado
"I watched Game 6 in the Deer District, on the old Bradley Center lot. Huge crowd, a pretty close game and then pure pandemonium when the Bucks won it." – Bill Cole, Menomonee Falls
"The Full Buck Moon a few nights after the big game. Very appropriate timing." – Pete Schmidt, Nolensville, Tennessee
"I was at Fiserv Plaza with thousands of fans. The atmosphere was electric and the group went crazy at the final buzzer. It was amazing!" - Mac, Milwaukee
"Welcomed our first child May 2021. Watched all of the playoffs with sleepless infant. House asleep night of championship, celebrated silently." – Nathaniel, Appleton
"I remember being in the Deer District and standing in disbelief as the first sky cam shot showed the crowd downtown. Chills!" – Nick Koss, Franklin
"For my wife and I, game 1 vs. Miami at the Deer District was our first big outing post COVID. A sunny, daytime game with others!" – Jason, West Allis
"Giannis' big game in the deciding game." – Kurt, River Falls
"I was driving back to Arizona from Wisconsin and watching game 6 in Texas at a packed bar but only two tables watching the game. Ours and Suns fans! Fun!" – John Francois, Phoenix, Arizona
"Being in the building for the last timeout when everyone knew the Bucks had the game won. Unreal." – Pat, Columbia, Missouri
"Was overnight in Reno, Nevada, on a trip to Vegas with kids. Told them Bucks stories and finished with 'Bucks in 6.' Had to bet on Bucks in 6 of course. WINNER. Wouldn't cash the ticket unless I could keep it." – Mark Ellis, Lebanon, New Hampshire
"Being there to witness Game 6 in person with my son, who was 20 years old at the time, and experiencing the championship events is a lasting memory." – Garry, Houston, Texas
"Being there with my son - greatest night of our lives. Then heading to the Ambassador where we joined my wife and were up until 2 in the morning!" – Paul Krueger, Sheboygan