Category: Milwaukee Bucks

Looking Back at Every Sweep in NBA Finals History
29 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Looking Back at Every Sweep in NBA Finals History

Among the four major North American sports leagues, the NBA has traditionally stood out in the popular imagination as being the league of the dynasties. The Boston Celtics of the 1960s begat the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s begat the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, and so on and so forth.

For this reason, it may surprise you to learn that in the NBA Finals' entire history—from its quaint 1947 origins to the present day—professional basketball's final series has seen just nine sweeps.

Here is a look back at the nine perfect performances in the event's annals. Note before we begin that there were four best-of-five finals sweeps in the history of the National Basketball League, the NBA's immediate predecessor.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Celtics 118, Lakers 115

Game 2

Celtics 128, Lakers 108

Game 3

Celtics 123, Lakers 110

Game 4

Celtics 118, Lakers 113

The very first Finals between Boston and the Lakers, and the only one that took place while the Lakers were located in Minneapolis. The first of the Celtics' run of eight straight championships, the longest streak in the history of the four major North American sports. Boston center Bill Russell averaged 29.5 rebounds per game, which will play.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Bucks 98, Bullets 88

Game 2

Bucks 102, Bullets 83

Game 3

Bucks 107, Bullets 99

Game 4

Bucks 118, Bullets 106

The Milwaukee Bucks' first title, and their only title until 2021. The first of six rings for Bucks center Lew Alcindor, the future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The most recent of two series, along with the 1956 Finals, played under a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format in which the two teams alternated home games.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Warriors 101, Bullets 95

Game 2

Warriors 92, Bullets 91

Game 3

Warriors 109, Bullets 101

Game 4

Warriors 96, Bullets 95

Both the Golden State Warriors (Al Attles) and Washington Bullets (K.C. Jones) had Black head coaches, which hadn't happened before in any league. The Bullets actually took three of four from Golden State in the regular season, anticipating a highly competitive matchup. A 14-5 run late in Game 4 gave the Warriors their last title until 2015.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

76ers 113, Lakers 107

Game 2

76ers 103, Lakers 93

Game 3

76ers 111, Lakers 94

Game 4

76ers 115, Lakers 108

A fitting conclusion to Hall of Fame center Moses Malone's third and final MVP season. Polished off a 12-1 playoff run after Malone predicted the Philadelphia 76ers would need only four games to win each series. The last major Philadelphia championship until the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series in 2008.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Pistons 109, Lakers 97

Game 2

Pistons 108, Lakers 105

Game 3

Pistons 114, Lakers 110

Game 4

Pistons 105, Lakers 97

The Detroit Pistons' first title after a grueling seven-game loss to the Lakers the season prior. Featured a superb performance from Pistons guard Joe Dumars, who averaged 27.3 points per game. The curtain call on Abdul-Jabbar's spectacular 20-year career.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Rockets 120, Magic 118 (OT)

Game 2

Rockets 117, Magic 106

Game 3

Rockets 106, Magic 103

Game 4

Rockets 113, Magic 101

Notorious for the Orlando Magic's complete meltdown in Game 1, during which guard Nick Anderson missed four crucial free throws to open the door for Houston Rockets guard Kenny Smith's game-tying three. The Rockets, seeded sixth, became the lowest-seeded team to win the title. Houston's title followed a seven-game championship win over the New York Knicks in 1994.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Lakers 99, Nets 94

Game 2

Lakers 106, Nets 83

Game 3

Lakers 106, Nets 103

Game 4

Lakers 113, Nets 107

The Lakers' third consecutive championship, and center Shaquille O'Neal's third consecutive Finals MVP award. Los Angeles overcame a superb individual series from New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd, who had averaged a triple-double in the Eastern Conference finals. The last Finals aired on NBC to date.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Spurs 95, Cavaliers 76

Game 2

Spurs 103, Cavaliers 92

Game 3

Spurs 75, Cavaliers 72

Game 4

Spurs 83, Cavaliers 82

Noted for its astoundingly low scores, Game 3 was the lowest-scoring Finals game since 1955. The first Finals for Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, and for every Cavalier apart from veteran guard Eric Snow. Despite several close games, only in Game 4 did Cleveland lead in the second half.

GAME

RESULT

Game 1

Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114 (OT)

Game 2

Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103

Game 3

Warriors 110, Cavaliers 102

Game 4

Warriors 108, Cavaliers 85

The sweep everyone remembers. Began with a bizarre overtime game in which Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith appeared to forget the score at the end of regulation and James scored 51 points in defeat. The average margin of victory, 15, is the largest in any NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards
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Patrick Beverley Explains What Happened During Altercation With Fan in Bucks–Pacers
8 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Patrick Beverley Explains What Happened During Altercation With Fan in Bucks–Pacers

Patrick Beverley addressed the incident from the closing minutes of the Milwaukee Bucks' season-ending 120–98 loss to the Indiana Pacers last week when he threw a basketball at a fan—twice—sitting behind the team bench.

"Unfortunate situation that should never have happened," Beverley said on the Pat Bev Podcast. "What I did was bad, and that should never happen. I have to be better and I will be better."

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the day after the incident that the Pacers fan yelled a rather mild taunt at Beverley as the team broke out of a huddle, referring to the Bucks' vacation plans as they were about to be eliminated from the playoffs.

"Cancun ... Cancun on three," the fan reportedly said.

Beverley, however, stated there was more said than those four words before he threw the basketball at the fan.

"Let's just say it was more than, 'Cancun on three,'" Beverley said. "Let's just say it was more than that.

"I've been called a lot of stuff in this league. I haven't been called that one. ... The things that were said to me, I could've gotten four or five fans kicked out."

Beverley also stated security at Gainbridge Fieldhouse asked him if he wanted the fans kicked out earlier in the game, but he didn't want to give them the boot.

"I'm not the guy to get fans kicked out neither," Beverley said.

Beverley, 35, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. If the veteran finds a new NBA home by next season, he likely will serve some sort of penalty from the NBA in the form of a suspension and fine.

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley
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ESPN Issues Statement Regarding Report of Patrick Beverley's Ban From Network
4 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

ESPN Issues Statement Regarding Report of Patrick Beverley’s Ban From Network

ESPN's public relations department issued a statement on Saturday afternoon denying a report that Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley was banned from network programming.

The report, which came from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports Friday, indicated that Beverley had been banned from appearing on any ESPN shows after the Bucks guard ejected network producer Malinda Adams from his postgame media availability on Thursday night.

"There was an erroneous report that suggested Patrick Beverley was banned from appearing on ESPN. He isn't banned and never was," the statement from the network said Saturday.

Beverley's verbal altercation with Adams came after she admitted to the Bucks guard that she did not subscribe to his podcast.

Beverley's behavior during the media scrum, as well as during the game when he threw a ball at a group of Pacers fans behind the Milwaukee bench twice, was widely criticized in the aftermath of Milwaukee's elimination from the playoffs.

Beverley apologized to Adams on Friday, she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Friday.

There is no word yet on any discipline for Beverley from the NBA regarding either of the two incidents.

ESPN, Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley
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Draymond Green Has Message for Patrick Beverley After Postgame Meltdown
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Draymond Green Has Message for Patrick Beverley After Postgame Meltdown

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, infamously known for his own on-court antics, shared a message to Patrick Beverley on his podcast in light of Thursday night's controversies surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks guard.

"Pat, you can't keep having these moments, man, at the end of these losses," Green said on The Draymond Green Show. "You starting to look like the kid that's going to grab the ball and say, 'I'm going home. I can't play. We're outta here. I'm leaving the park, it's my ball.'

"Come on, Pat."

Beverley went viral in the closing minutes of the Bucks' season-ending 120–98 loss to the Indiana Pacers for chucking a basketball at a fan behind Milwaukee's bench—twice.

"It opens up an entirely different can of worms," Green said of Beverley's basketball toss. "[NBA commissioner] Adam [Silver] going to have a problem on his hands with this one. It's about as close as you can get to going in the stands. That is forbidden for us."

After all that, Beverley dug himself in another hole in the Bucks' locker room. He refused to answer a reporter's question because she didn't subscribe to his podcast and asked her to leave the scrum around his locker.

"I actually try to take the complete opposite approach because I am very appreciative of the NBA supporting podcasts the way they do," Green said.

Beverley will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. If the 35-year-old finds a new NBA home the next few months, he likely will serve a suspension for his antics Thursday to begin the season.

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley
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Pacers Fan’s Silly Four-Word Taunt Led Patrick Beverley to Throwing Ball, per Report
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Pacers Fan’s Silly Four-Word Taunt Led Patrick Beverley to Throwing Ball, per Report

It was a regrettable night for Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley.

From Milwaukee's season-ending, 120-98, loss in Game 6 to the Indiana Pacers, to Beverley throwing a ball in the stands and having a regrettable postgame exchange with an ESPN producer, it's a night that the veteran would like to forget.

In regard to Beverley chucking the basketball into the stands at Pacers fans, we are now learning more about the lead up to the incident. A Pacers fan shouted, "Cancun...Cancun on three!" as the Bucks players were breaking a huddle, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The phrase from the fan, insinuating that Bucks players would be going on vacation with their season ending short of a championship, is apparently the straw that broke the camel's back for Beverley, who lost his cool on Milwaukee's bench.

It seems silly that a phrase as innocuous as the one the Pacers fan yelled toward the Milwaukee bench was the one that got Beverley riled up, but alas the end result was the Bucks guard tossing the ball into the stands twice out of malice.

Beverley will certainly be hearing from the league office soon.

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley
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Stephen A. Smith Rips Patrick Beverley, Predicts Strong Punishment From NBA
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Stephen A. Smith Rips Patrick Beverley, Predicts Strong Punishment From NBA

Stephen A. Smith ripped Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley's behavior with ESPN producer Malinda Adams during postgame media availability in the wake of the Bucks' season-ending 120-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Beverley asked Adams if she subscribed to his podcast when she asked him a question during the locker room media scrum. After she admitted she did not subscribe to his podcast, he asked her to remove her microphone and leave the circle of reporters.

Smith believes a big fine could be coming for Beverley's unwarranted actions.

"I can't believe he did that. I just can't believe he did that," Smith began. "I've known Patrick Beverley for years. I love the brother. It's inexcusable. It's indefensible. When he threw the ball into the stands, he didn't mean to throw it at the woman. He meant to throw it at the guy... but he should have never thrown it the first time... And then to go into the locker room thereafter and to address a female reporter. I'm quite sure there are male reporters in the locker room who don't necessarily subscribe to Pat Beverley's podcast. Did you ask them whether they are subscribers to your podcast? Did you refuse to talk to them?

"It's indefensible. I love Pat Bev. I cannot defend it, not one bit. It is an incredibly bad look. A suspension? You can book it... The punishment is forthcoming and I suspect a severe one."

Beverley reportedly called Adams to apologize on Friday morning, and it's apparent that he is in some hot water with the NBA. Time will tell just how severe the punishment is for Beverley for his off-court antics on Thursday night.

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley, Stephen A. Smith
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Tyrese Haliburton Has a Wholesome Theory for Why T.J. McConnell Played Well in Game 6
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Tyrese Haliburton Has a Wholesome Theory for Why T.J. McConnell Played Well in Game 6

The Indiana Pacers knocked the Milwaukee Bucks out of the playoffs on Thursday night with a 120-98 victory in Game 6.

Perhaps the most impactful player for the Pacers was veteran guard T.J. McConnell, who came off the bench to score 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting to go along with nine assists and four steals in 23 minutes of action.

When asked about the impact that McConnell had on the outcome of the game, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton gave a pretty genuine response about his teammate.

"Yeah I knew he was gonna respond," Haliburton said. "His wife Val was here and I always tell him that he plays better when Val is at the games. He was a little down after Game 5. He didn't perform how he wanted to. I just told him, 'Hey we're gonna go home. Val is gonna be at the game. You're gonna be better.' And it happened, so shoutout Val!" Haliburton concluded with a big smile on his face.

McConnell's shooting and playmaking prowess off the bench will certainly be needed in the Eastern Conference semifinals when the Pacers take on the New York Knicks.

Game 1 is set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, T.J. McConnell, Tyrese Haliburton
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Patrick Beverley Refused to Talk to a Reporter Who Wasn't Subscribed to His Podcast
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Patrick Beverley Refused to Talk to a Reporter Who Wasn’t Subscribed to His Podcast

The Milwaukee Bucks' ill-fated 2023-2024 season came to an end on Thursday night as the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the playoffs. The Pacers won, 120-98, sending the Giannis Antotenkounmpo-less Bucks home in six games. Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell combined for 51 points and 23 assists. Their counterpart, Patrick Beverley, played a team-high 40 minutes, equaled his season average with six points, and threw a basketball at a fan.

After the game the media gathered around Beverley's locker to talk to the team's sixth-leading postseason scorer. That was when Beverley looked at ESPN's Malinda Adams and asked if she subscribed to his podcast and informed her that she could not interview him if she didn't.

She laughed it off, likely assuming he was joking, but he actually wasn't. So Beverley then pushed her microphone away and said, "Can you move that mic, please? Or just get out the circle, please for me, please ma'am. If you're not subscribed to my pod I'd appreciate that." She then walked away.

Beverley's unprofessional, childish, and quite frankly, lame request has been widely condemned in the media, but the most shocking part is that this apparently wasn't a one-time thing. According to CBS Sports' Jack Maloney, Beverley "has refused to talk to any of us in Milwaukee who do not subscribe to his podcast since he arrived at the trade deadline."

Some people in the comments (never read the comments!) are arguing that since it's free and easy to subscribe to the podcast, media members should just do what Beverley asks (or just lie about it!), but that misses every possible point. First of all, the NBA has rules about media availability and nowhere in those rules does it say a media member needs anything but a credential to get access. Smashing that subscribe button certainly isn't a requirement.

Most importantly, this is just kind of sad. Sad for Beverley, who needs to force people to subscribe to his podcast. Sad for any media member who caved to this ridiculous demand. And especially sad for anyone who has to listen to his reaction when he's told he's definitely not allowed to do this.

ESPN, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, Patrick Beverley
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Patrick Beverley Shares Statement After Making Excuse for Throwing Ball at Pacers Fans
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Patrick Beverley Shares Statement After Making Excuse for Throwing Ball at Pacers Fans

It was a rough night for Patrick Beverley and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Indiana Pacers took care of business at home, defeating the Bucks 120-98 in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Pacers fans behind the Bucks' bench exchanged words with Beverley during the game, and it was clear that Beverley's frustrations had boiled over. Beverley tossed a ball at a Pacers fan in the stands, who then lobbed it back in his direction. Beverley then took the ball and threw it with force back at the fan before being restrained by his teammates.

Beverley didn't address the altercation with the fans in his postgame media availability, but he continued his antics by asking an ESPN producer to stop interviewing him because she didn't subscribe to his podcast.

As for the run-in with the Pacers fans, Beverley gave an excuse for his behavior in a social media post after the game, before issuing a half-hearted apology.

It's fair to assume that Beverley will be hearing from the league office, both for refusing an interview (which he's obligated to give per the CBA) and throwing the ball at Pacers fans in the stands.

Not a great night for Beverley or the Bucks, who will now move into the offseason with plenty of questions.

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley
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Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Uses Old Damian Lillard Quote to Troll Patrick Beverley
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Uses Old Damian Lillard Quote to Troll Patrick Beverley

The Indiana Pacers are headed to the Eastern Conference semifinals after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton pulled no punches when gloating over the series victory, taking to X and referencing an old quote from Bucks point guard Damian Lillard in order to take a shot at Patrick Beverley.

"Con man. Flip from above the rim," wrote Haliburton on X, quoting an old post of a video in which Beverley was talking trash about Haliburton's game to reporters.

Lillard and Beverley, who are now teammates in Milwaukee, haven't always gotten along. In a previous spat between the two guards, Lillard used that same quote to compare Beverley to Bernie Mac's character, Flip, from the 1994 film, "Above the Rim."

Suffice to say, Flip isn't a character most would want to draw connections to, and Haliburton made his own feelings on Beverley abundantly clear with his seven-word tweet on Thursday.

It's not the first time that the Bucks have been eliminated by Indiana this year. The Pacers knocked Milwaukee out of the in-season tournament, a game during which Haliburton did his fair share of showboating, which prompted a response from Damian Lillard in a postgame press conference.

After ending the Bucks' season with their 4–2 series win, Haliburton once again was eager to celebrate and took the opportunity to troll Beverley in savage fashion.

Damian Lillard, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, Patrick Beverley, Tyrese Haliburton
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