Draft:Bucks-Bulls rivalry

Bucks-Bulls rivalry

Milwaukee Bucks Chicago Bulls
First meeting	October 16, 1968 Bulls 89, Bucks 84
Latest meeting	March 1, 2024 Bucks 113, Bulls 97
Statistics
Meetings total	290
All-time series	146-144 (MKE)
Regular season series	135-132 (CHI)
Postseason results	14-9 (MKE)
Longest win streak	CHI,MKE W12
Current win streak	MKE W2
Postseason history
1974 Western Conference Finals: Bucks won, 4–0 1985 Eastern Conference First Round: Bucks won, 3–1 1990 Eastern Conference First Round: Bulls won, 3–1 2015 Eastern Conference First Round: Bulls won, 4–2 2022 Eastern Conference First Round: Bucks won, 4–1

The Bucks–Bulls rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. The rivalry began in 1968 when the Milwaukee Bucks joined the NBA as an expansion team. The two cities are known for their geographic proximity being only 92 miles (148 KM) apart and connected by Interstate 94 (I-94).

History

1968-1983: Early Years

When the Milwaukee Bucks joined the NBA in 1968 the teams were in separate Divisions. The Bucks were placed in the Eastern Division and the Bulls in the Western Division. The first meeting between the two teams came in the Bucks' inaugural NBA game on October 16, 1968. That inaugural game was won by the Bulls and led to them taking the overall series lead during the early years of the rivalry.

The rivalry began to heat up in the 1970-71 NBA season when expansion and realignment placed both teams in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. The Bucks quickly rose to prominence due to hall-of-fame players Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Bob Dandridge. This success culminated with Milwaukee winning its first NBA championship in 1971. The Bucks dominated the Bulls throughout most of the 1970s going 41-20 in their head-to-head matchups and took the overall series lead for the first time in the 1972-73 NBA season.

1984-1998: Michael Jordan Era and Bulls Dynasty

In the 1984 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the third overall pick. Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships and two three-peats from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. Although Milwaukee was not as competitive, games between the two teams were physical and intense. Jordan would put up dominant performances against the Bucks several times throughout his career. Notably, he played 66 games against Milwaukee and averaged 32.3 points with a 125 offensive rating. During this era, the Bulls regained the overall series lead against the Bucks on January 17, 1997, for the first time since the 1970-71 NBA season with a record of 87-85.

2000s: Rebuilding and dormancy

During the early 2000s, the rivalry became dormant as the Bulls began to rebuild after the departure of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and head coach Phil Jackson. After the 1998 NBA Finals the Bulls would not make the playoffs again until 2005. In contrast to the Bulls' struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks were regular playoff contenders during the early 2000s. The Bucks, led by their "Big Three" of Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, and Sam Cassell, formed a competitive trio in the eastern conference. They reached the 2001 Eastern Conference finals losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games.

2010-Present: Bucks 2nd NBA championship

After a period of dormancy, the rivalry picked up again. The Bulls won the NBA draft lottery and selected Derrick Rose with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. A few years later in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick. Both players made an immediate impact in turning their respective team's fortunes around. This led to the teams meeting in the 2015 NBA playoffs, their first playoff series since 1990.

In the following years, Antetokounmpo emerged as one of the top players in the NBA. The Bucks continued building around him adding key players like Jrue Holliday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez. In 2021 the Bucks won their second NBA championship and first in 50 years.

Playoffs

1974 Western Conference finals

This was the first playoff meeting between the two teams and their only playoff series in the Western Conference. After winning convincingly in a 4-0 sweep the Bucks would go on to lose the 1974 NBA Finals in 7 games to the Boston Celtics.

1985 Eastern Conference first Round

This was the second playoff meeting between the two teams and the first series since joining the Eastern Conference. The Bucks faced off against a young and inexperienced Bulls team led by Michael Jordan in his first playoff series. The Bucks proved to be too much for the Bulls and won the series 3-1.

1990 Eastern Conference First round

This was the third playoff meeting between the two teams. Unlike the 1985 series, the Bulls had the advantage because of their young core built around Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. The Bulls won the series 3-1. After winning the series the Bulls advanced to the conference finals losing to the Detroit Pistons in seven games.

2015 Eastern Conference first round

This was the fourth playoff meeting between the two teams and the first in 25 years. The Bulls being led by Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler faced off against a young Bucks team with an up-and-coming Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bulls won the series 4-2.

2022 Eastern Conference first round

This was the fifth and most recent playoff meeting between the two teams. The Bucks came into this series as the defending NBA champions. The Bulls struggled offensively in the series as they could only score over 100 points in two of the five games. The Bulls were outmatched for most of the series and lost 4-1. During the series Bucks players Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis went down with injuries in game two causing them to miss a few games in the next round and lose to the Boston Celtics in seven games.

Season-by-season results

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls Season-by-Season Results
1960s (Bulls, 9–3) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks at Neutral Site Overall series Notes 1968–69 Bulls 5–1 Bulls, 2–1 Bulls, 3-0 Bulls 5–1 Milwaukee Bucks join the NBA as an expansion team and were placed in the Eastern Division. 1969–70 Bulls 4–2 Bulls, 2–1 Tie, 1-1 Bulls, 1–0 Bulls 9–3 Neutral game site was played at Dane County Veteran Memorial Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin.
1970s (Bucks, 41–20) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks at Neutral Site Overall series Notes 1970–71 Bucks 5–1 Bucks, 2–1 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks, 1–0 Bulls 10-8 Neutral game site was played at Dane County Veteran Memorial Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin. Bucks leave the Eastern Division and join the Midwest Division in the Western Conference alongside the Bulls. 1971–72 Bucks 4-2 Bulls, 2–1 Bucks, 3-0 Tie 12-12 1972–73 Bucks 4-2 Bulls, 2–1 Bucks, 3-0 Bucks 16-14 Bucks take the overall series record for the first time. 1973–74 Tie 3-3 Bucks, 2–1 Bulls, 2-1 Bucks 19-17 1974 Western Conference finals Bucks 4–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks 23–17 1st postseason series. Only time both teams faced each other in the Western Conference playoffs. Bucks go on to lose the 1974 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics. 1974–75 Bucks 5–3 Tie, 2–2 Bucks, 3-1 Bucks 28-20 1975–76 Bucks 4–3 Bucks, 2–1 Tie, 2–2 Bucks 32-23 1976–77 Bulls 3–1 Bulls, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bucks 33-26 1977–78 Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1–1 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks 36-27 1978–79 Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1–1 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks 39-28 1979–80 Bucks 5–1 Bucks, 2–1 Bucks, 3–0 Bucks 44-29
1980s (Bulls, 34-33) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks Overall series Notes 1980–81 Tie 3-3 Bulls, 2–1 Bucks, 2-1 Bucks 47-32 Bucks and Bulls both leave the Midwest Division and join the Central Division in the Eastern Conference. 1981–82 Bucks 5–1 Bucks, 3-0 Bucks, 2-1 Bucks 52-33 1982–83 Bucks 5–1 Bucks, 3-0 Bucks, 2-1 Bucks 57-34 1983–84 Bucks 4-2 Bucks, 2–1 Bucks, 2-1 Bucks 61-36 1984–85 Tie 3-3 Bulls, 3-0 Bucks, 3-0 Bucks 64-39 Michael Jordan's rookie season. 1985 Eastern Conference first round Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks 67–40 2nd postseason series. First time both teams faced each other in the Eastern Conference playoffs. 1985–86 Bucks 5–1 Bucks, 2-1 Bucks, 3-0 Bucks 72-41 1986–87 Bulls 4-2 Bulls, 2–1 Bulls, 2-1 Bucks 74-45 1987–88 Bulls 5–1 Bulls, 2–1 Bulls, 3-0 Bucks 75-50 The Bucks' last season played at the MECCA Arena. 1988–89 Bulls 6-0 Bulls, 3-0 Bulls, 3-0 Bucks 75-56 The Bucks' first season played at the Bradley Center. 1989–90 Bulls 4–1 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-1 Bucks 76-60 1990 Eastern Conference first round Bulls 3-1 Bulls, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bucks 77–63 3rd postseason series.
1990s (Bulls, 30-14) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks Overall series Notes 1990–91 Bulls 4–1 Bulls, 3-0 Tie, 1-1 Bucks 78-67 Bulls win 1991 NBA Finals, their 1st NBA championship. 1991–92 Bulls 3-2 Bulls, 2–0 Bucks, 2-1 Bucks 80-70 Bulls win 1992 NBA Finals, their 2nd NBA championship. 1992–93 Bulls 4–1 Bulls, 3–0 Tie, 1-1 Bucks 81-74 Bulls win 1993 NBA Finals, their 3rd NBA championship and 1st three-peat. 1993–94 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bucks 81-78 Bulls last season played at the Chicago Stadium. 1994–95 Bucks 4–1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 3-0 Bucks 85-79 Bulls' first season played at the United Center. 1995–96 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bucks 85-83 Bulls win 1996 NBA Finals, their 4th NBA championship. 1996–97 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 87-85 Bulls win 1997 NBA Finals, their 5th NBA championship. 1997–98 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 91-85 Bulls win 1998 NBA Finals, their 6th NBA championship and 2nd three-peat. 1998–99 Bucks 3–1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 2-0 Bulls 92-88 1999–2000 Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 2-0 Bulls 93-91
2000s (Tie, 20–20) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks Overall series Notes 2000–01 Bucks 4–0 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks 95-93 2001–02 Tie 2-2 Bulls, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks 97-95 2002–03 Tie 2-2 Bulls, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks 99-97 2003–04 Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks 102-98 2004–05 Tie 2-2 Bulls, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks 104-100 Bucks won 14 home games in a row against the Bulls from 1999-2005. 2005–06 Tie 2-2 Tie, 1-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks 106-102 2006–07 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Tie 106-106 2007–08 Bulls 3-1 Bulls, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bulls 109-107 2008–09 Bulls 3-1 Bulls, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bulls 112-108 2009–10 Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 2-0 Bulls 113-111
2010s (Bulls, 26-20) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks Overall series Notes 2010–11 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 117-111 2011–12 Bulls 4–0 Bulls, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 121-111 2012–13 Tie Tie 2-2 Bucks, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 123-113 2013–14 Bulls 3-1 Tie, 1-1 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 126-114 Giannis Antetokounmpo's rookie season 2014–15 Bulls 3-1 Bulls, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bulls 129-115 2015 Eastern Conference first round Bulls 4-2 Bulls, 2-1 Bulls, 2–1 Bulls 133-117 4th postseason series. 2015–16 Bulls 3-1 Bulls, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bulls 136-118 2016–17 Bucks 3-1 Bucks, 2–0 Tie, 1-1 Bulls 137-121 2017–18 Tie 2-2 Bucks, 2–0 Bulls, 2-0 Bulls 139-123 The Bucks' last season played at the Bradley Center. 2018–19 Bucks 4–0 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bulls 139-127 The Bucks' first season played at Fiserv Forum. 2019–20 Bucks 4–0 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bulls 139-131
2020s (Bucks, 15-5) Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks Overall series Notes 2020–21 Bucks 2-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 1-0 Bulls 140-133 Bucks win 2021 NBA Finals, their 2nd NBA championship. 2021–22 Bucks 4–0 Bucks, 2–0 Bucks, 2-0 Bulls 140-137 2022 Eastern Conference first round Bucks 4-1 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks, 2–1 Tie 141-141 5th postseason series. 2022–23 Tie 2-2 Tie, 1-1 Tie, 1-1 Tie 143-143 2023–24 Bucks 3-1 Tie, 1-1 Bucks, 2-0 Bucks 146-144
Summary of Results Season Season series at Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks at Neutral Site Notes Regular season games Bulls 135-132 Bulls, 80-53 Bucks, 78-54 Tie, 1-1 Postseason games Bucks 14-9 Bucks, 6-5 Bucks, 8–4 Postseason series Bucks 3–2 Bucks, 2–0 Bulls, 2–1 Western Conference finals: 1974 Eastern Conference first round: 1985, 1990, 2015, 2022 Regular and postseason Bucks 146-144 Bulls, 85-59 Bucks, 86-54 Tie, 1-1 Both neutral game sites were played at Dane County Veteran Memorial Coliseum, in Madison, Wisconsin during the 1969-1970 and 1970-71 seasons.

See Also

• National Basketball Association rivalries
• Bulls-Cavaliers rivalry
• Bulls-Pistons rivalry
• Bulls-Knicks rivalry

Sports rivalries of the same cities/states:

• Bears-Packers rivalry
• Brewers-Cubs rivalry