In what may be the most unlikely matchup in the NBA finals in decades, the Phoenix Suns will take on the Milwaukee Bucks. The two teams have a linked history from the very beginning so it is fitting that they take on each other. Both teams joined the NBA as expansion teams in 1968, and both had tumultuous first seasons. The #1 pick in 1969 was decided by a coin flip between the two teams, a flip that the Bucks won and got to select Lew Alcindor out of UCLA. The Suns got the 2nd pick and drafted Neal Walk.

The Bucks come into the finals as a somewhat known commodity. They have been good for several seasons, even reaching the conference finals in 2019. The Suns on the other hand are in their first playoffs since 2010. Both teams have had a history of playoff failures and regardless of who wins this season will be seen as a success and one of their best seasons in team history by both teams.

With Lew Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Bucks saw the greatest era of their franchise’s history. Jabbar led the Bucks to the finals twice, once in 1971 and again in 1974. The Bucks would win their only title in 1971. They got close in 74, but lost a pivotal game 7 vs the Celtics. The Suns wished that Walk would have turned into a quarter of the player that Jabbar did. Walk did have a few good years including one season where he averaged 20 points a game, but lasted just 8 seasons in the NBA playing for the Suns, Jazz and Knicks. He never made an all-star team and is largely forgotten. Jabbar on the other had played 20 seasons in the NBA, became the games all-time leading scorer, was a 19 time all-star, one of the 50 greatest players to ever play in the NBA, and lead the Bucks to their only title and the Lakers to 5 more.

The Suns would make the finals in 1976, and game 5 of their series vs Boston is often regarded as the greatest NBA game ever played.