The Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 NBA Championship will forever be etched in the franchise’s history as a moment of glory, ending a 50-year title drought since their last championship in 1971 with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. However closer look at their playoff run reveals that luck played an undeniable role in their path to the title. From opponent injuries to improbable comebacks, the Bucks’ 2021 championship was as more a product of fortunate breaks than a testament to their talent.
Round 1: A Gentle Warm-Up Against a Hobbled Heat
The Bucks’ playoff journey began with a first-round matchup against the Miami Heat, the team that had embarrassed them 4-1 in the 2020 Eastern Conference Semifinals. On paper, this was a tough draw—Miami was battle-tested, with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and a gritty supporting cast. But in 2021, the Heat were not the same juggernaut. They limped into the playoffs as the sixth seed with a 40-32 record, plagued by injuries and inconsistent play throughout the season. Key role players like Victor Oladipo, acquired at the trade deadline, were sidelined or ineffective due to injury. Miami’s vaunted “Heat Culture” couldn’t overcome a Bucks team firing on all cylinders. Milwaukee swept the series 4-0, exacting revenge with relative ease. While the Bucks were clearly superior, facing a diminished Heat squad—rather than a healthier, higher-seeded opponent—gave them a fortunate runway into the next round.
Round 2: The Nets’ Injury Implosion
The Eastern Conference Semifinals pitted the Bucks against the Brooklyn Nets, a superteam featuring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. The Nets were the title favorites, boasting an offensive firepower that seemed unstoppable. In Game 1, Brooklyn lived up to the hype, dismantling Milwaukee 115-107. Early in Game 2, with the Nets up 49-34, it looked like the Bucks might be headed for a quick exit.
Then, luck intervened. Kyrie Irving suffered an ankle injury in Game 4 after landing awkwardly on Giannis’ foot, forcing him out of the series. James Harden, already nursing a hamstring injury from Game 1, missed multiple games and returned at less than full strength. Suddenly, the Nets were reduced to Kevin Durant and a depleted supporting cast. KD nearly carried Brooklyn to victory anyway—his 49-point triple-double in Game 5 and 48-point effort in Game 7 were heroic—but the Bucks clawed back. They erased a 2-0 series deficit, pushed it to seven games, and won an overtime thriller in Game 7, 115-111, thanks to Durant’s toe being millimeters over the three-point line on a potential game-tying shot. Had Irving stayed healthy, or Harden been at 100%, the Nets’ Big Three might have overwhelmed Milwaukee. Instead, the Bucks dodged a bullet—or rather, a barrage of them—and advanced.
Conference Finals: Trae Young’s Freak Injury
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks faced the upstart Atlanta Hawks, led by Trae Young’s dazzling play making. The Hawks had just upset the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, and their momentum made them a dangerous foe. The series was tied 2-2 after four games, with Young torching Milwaukee’s defence for 35 points in Game 1 and 25 in Game 3.
Then, in Game 4, another stroke of fortune struck. Young stepped on a referee’s foot while retreating on defense, twisting his ankle and missing the rest of the game. He sat out Games 5 and 6 entirely, and though he returned for Game 6, he was visibly hobbled. Without their star at full strength, the Hawks faltered, and the Bucks seized control, winning the series 4-2. Giannis himself suffered a scary hyperextension of his knee in Game 4, but miraculously returned for the Finals after missing just two games—a recovery that defied medical expectations. The Bucks’ luck held firm: they lost their star briefly but got him back, while the Hawks lost theirs at the worst possible time.
The Finals: Phoenix’s Fatigue and Giannis’ Greatness
The Finals matchup against the Phoenix Suns was a classic David-vs.-Goliath tale. The Suns, led by Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton, jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But Milwaukee’s luck kicked in again. Phoenix had endured a gruelling playoff run, facing the Lakers, Nuggets, and Clippers—all series that tested their depth and stamina. Key Suns role players like Dario Šarić suffered injuries, and the team’s energy waned as the Finals progressed.
But the Bucks also benefited from Phoenix’s inability to close out games they’d led late, such as Game 4’s collapse after a Devin Booker 42-point outburst. Milwaukee stormed back to win four straight, clinching the title 105-98 in Game 6. The Suns’ exhaustion, combined with Milwaukee’s fortunate bounces (like Jrue Holiday’s clutch steal in Game 5), tilted the series in the Bucks’ favor.
It’s hard to ignore the breaks that fell their way: a weakened Heat team, a Nets squad decimated by injuries, Trae Young’s fluke ankle twist, and a fatigued Suns roster. Without those moments, the Bucks might still be chasing their second ring. In the end, their 2021 title was a perfect storm of skill, determination, and—yes—a hefty dose of luck. Bucks fans won’t care how it happened, though. After 50 years, the trophy finally came home to Milwaukee.
