Back in 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks surprised everyone when they won the championship that year by defeating the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. But for veteran forward Markieff Morris, though, the Brooklyn Nets could have won the title if All-Star guard Kyrie Irving didn’t get injured.
Before the 2020-21 season, the Bucks also made strategic moves to bolster their roster. They engaged in a trade that sent Eric Bledsoe and George Hill to the New Orleans Pelicans, acquiring veteran guard Jrue Holiday. Furthermore, they added depth to their bench through the signings of free agents Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes.
During the regular season itself, Milwaukee clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 46-26 record. To further fortify their defense for the playoffs, the Bucks acquired P.J. Tucker, further enhancing their chances of success.
In the 2021 Playoffs, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks began by sweeping the Miami Heat, and defeating the Brooklyn Nets in a grueling seven-game series. They then overcame the Atlanta Hawks in six games during the Conference Finals, securing their ticket to the NBA Finals that year.
Despite trailing 2-0, they fought back and ultimately claimed the championship title. Antetokounmpo’s exceptional performance throughout the series earned him the well-deserved title of Finals MVP. He also averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game during that series.
NBA Veteran Markieff Morris Drops Surprising Claim About Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 Championship
Years after that championship run, veteran forward Markieff Morris spoke about that series between the Bucks and Nets. In an article by Stefan Bondy for the New York Post, Morris gave more context to that Eastern Conference showdown.
“If Giannis ain’t put his foot under [Irving], they would’ve had a championship,” said Morris, who was playing for the Lakers at the time. “Milwaukee would still be without a championship.
“I know so. They were going to get swept. They know that. You can ask anybody on their team,” added Morris, pointing out that former Bucks point guard Jeff Teague said the same on his podcast.
During that series, the Nets had a formidable trio of Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. It should be remembered that in Game 7 of that series, Durant’s toe on the arc prevented Brooklyn from winning the contest, and instead sent the game to overtime.
Morris’ admission only makes the Bucks very fortunate back in 2021. If Irving didn’t go down with an injury, Antetokounmpo would still remain ringless to this day.
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1 Comment
*sigh* Poor losers will always make an excuse. The Bucks too had to battle some adversity with Giannis’s hypextended knee.