Editing Milwaukee Bucks (section)

===2013–present: The Giannis Antetokounmpo era===
[[File:Giannis Antetokoummpo (31669417562).jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[Giannis Antetokounmpo]]]]

====2013–2014: under Larry Drew====
[[Jim Boylan]] was relieved of his coaching duties and ex-Atlanta Hawks coach [[Larry Drew]] was hired. On June 27, 2013, the Bucks chose Greek forward [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] with the 15th overall pick of the [[2013 NBA draft]]. They also brought in [[O. J. Mayo]], [[Carlos Delfino]], [[Zaza Pachulia]], and [[Gary Neal]] as well as seeing [[Monta Ellis]] opt-out of the final year of his contract. The Bucks also agreed to sign-and-trade Brandon Jennings to the [[Detroit Pistons]] in exchange for [[Brandon Knight (basketball)|Brandon Knight]], [[Khris Middleton]], and [[Viacheslav Kravtsov]]. The Bucks later extended their contract with [[Larry Sanders (basketball)|Larry Sanders]] with a four-year, $44 million contract and traded [[Ish Smith]] and Kravtsov to the [[Phoenix Suns]] for [[Caron Butler]]. By the start of the 2013–14 season, the Bucks only had four players on their roster from the previous season. The season itself was a struggle, as the Bucks finished with the worst record in the league at 15–67, the worst record in team history.

On April 16, 2014, long-time Bucks owner Herb Kohl agreed to sell a majority interest of the team to New York-based billionaires [[Wes Edens]], and [[Marc Lasry]] for $550 million, but Kohl retained a significant minority interest in the team. The new owners were expected to keep the team in Milwaukee. They were also expected to contribute $100 million toward building a new arena for the franchise.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bucks owner Kohl reaches deal to sell team|url=http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/16/bucks-franchise-sold.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=April 16, 2014|access-date=April 16, 2014|archive-date=July 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711014324/http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/16/bucks-franchise-sold.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts|url-status=live}}</ref> Approval from the NBA Board of Governors came on May 15, a month later.<ref name="Charles F. Gardner, Don Walker"/><ref>{{cite news|title=NBA owners approve sale of Bucks to Edens, Lasry|url=http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/nba-owners-approve-sale-bucks-edens-lasry|agency=Associated Press|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Bucks.com|date=May 15, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519062540/http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/nba-owners-approve-sale-bucks-edens-lasry|url-status=live}}</ref> By this time, Bradley Center was seen as obsolete. The donation from the Bradley heirs did not provide for the arena's operating expenses or long-term capital needs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bradley Center a Home-Court Disadvantage|first=Don|last=Walker|url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/36087854.html|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|date=December 13, 2008|access-date=April 16, 2011|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105000000/http://www.jsonline.com/business/36087854.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This led the NBA to give an ultimatum to Edens and Lasry–unless the Bucks were either close to getting a new arena or actually opening a new arena by the 2017–18 season, Edens and Lasry would be required to return the franchise to the league, which would sell it to prospective ownership groups in [[Las Vegas]] and [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fox6now.com/2015/07/28/wisconsin-assembly-approves-milwaukee-bucks-arena-deal/ |title=Wisconsin Assembly approves Milwaukee Bucks arena funding deal; Gov. Walker says he'll sign it |publisher=[[WITI (TV)|WITI]] |date=July 28, 2015 |access-date=July 3, 2017 |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004627/http://fox6now.com/2015/07/28/wisconsin-assembly-approves-milwaukee-bucks-arena-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2014–2018: under Jason Kidd====
On July 1, 2014, the Milwaukee Bucks secured the coaching rights for [[Jason Kidd]] from the [[Brooklyn Nets]] in exchange for two second-round draft picks in the [[2015 NBA draft]], and the [[2019 NBA draft]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bucks name Jason Kidd coach|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11161771/milwaukee-bucks-officially-name-jason-kidd-coach-trade|publisher=ESPN|date=July 1, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630031811/http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11161771/milwaukee-bucks-officially-name-jason-kidd-coach-trade|url-status=live}}</ref> With the acquisition of Kidd, the team fired coach [[Larry Drew]].

With the many changes to the Bucks in ownership, coaches, and acquiring new young players to rebuild the team, the Bucks' new slogan for the 2014–15 season became "''Own The Future''."

The Bucks' overall play vastly improved, and on December 26, the Bucks beat the [[Atlanta Hawks]] 107–77 for their 15th win, matching their win total of the previous season just 30 games in. The Bucks then went on a stretch from January 24 to February 20, where they went 10–2. The Bucks beat the Sacramento Kings on February 11 for their 30th win of the year, and also became the first-ever NBA team to double their win total from the previous season before the All-Star Break.

Off the court, the Bucks made several changes to their roster, releasing Larry Sanders after several off-court incidents that led to multiple suspensions. On February 19, in the final minutes of the trade deadline, the Bucks became part of a 3-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns, sending Brandon Knight, who was in the final year of his contract, to the Suns, and receiving reigning Rookie of the Year [[Michael Carter-Williams]], [[Miles Plumlee]], and [[Tyler Ennis (basketball)|Tyler Ennis]]. The Bucks also lost expected superstar Jabari Parker to a season-ending knee injury on December 15 in a game against the Phoenix Suns.

On January 25, the NBA passed the '[[Jay-Z]] Rule', prohibiting ownership groups from consisting of more than 25 individuals, and also mandating that no ownership interest in a team be smaller than 1%. Both Lasry and Edens had sold chunks of Bucks ownership to family, friends, and prominent members of the Milwaukee community.<ref>{{cite web|title=New NBA Rule Forbids Teams From Having More Than 25 Individual Owners|url=http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/236451/New-NBA-Rule-Forbids-Teams-From-Having-More-Than-25-Individual-Owners|website=RealGM Wiretap|access-date=July 11, 2015|date=January 29, 2015|archive-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717010148/http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/236451/New-NBA-Rule-Forbids-Teams-From-Having-More-Than-25-Individual-Owners|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Bucks finished the 2014–15 season with a 41–41 record. Their 26-game improvement from the previous season was the second-highest in franchise history. The Bucks made the [[2015 NBA playoffs]] as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, where they faced the [[Chicago Bulls]] in the first round, losing in six games.

On July 6, 2015, Bucks president Peter Feigin stated if public funding for a [[Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center|new arena]] fell through, the NBA could have bought the team and moved it to [[Las Vegas]] or [[Seattle]]. Current Bucks owners Wes Edens, Marc Lasry and Jamie Dinan combined with Herb Kohl to pledge $250 million for a new arena and sought a match from the public. Of those funds, $93 million would come from the Wisconsin Center District in the form of new debt on Milwaukee citizens. The district would not commence repaying the bonds until 13 years thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kass|first=Mark|title=Bucks' Feigin: If arena deal not approved, NBA will move team to 'Las Vegas or Seattle'|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2015/07/bucks-feigin-if-arena-dealnot-approved-nba-will.html?ana=twt|work=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]]|date=July 6, 2015|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709073758/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2015/07/bucks-feigin-if-arena-dealnot-approved-nba-will.html?ana=twt|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 9, 2015, the Bucks confirmed their signing of center [[Greg Monroe]] to a three-year, $50 million contract. The Bucks also announced the club's re-signing of [[Khris Middleton]] to a five-year, $70 million contract.

On July 15, 2015, the future for the Bucks in Milwaukee was solidified after the Wisconsin State Senate voted 21–10 in favor of a proposal to use public money to help finance a replacement for the BMO Harris Bradley Center, which at the time was the third-oldest arena being used by an NBA team, behind [[Oracle Arena]], and [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bucks Statement on Wisconsin State Senate Vote|url=http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-statement-wisconsin-state-senate-vote|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Bucks.com|date=July 15, 2015|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905192918/http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-statement-wisconsin-state-senate-vote|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Price|first=Satchel|title=Wisconsin State Senate Reaches Deal To Help Fund Milwaukee Bucks' New Arena|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2015/7/15/8970063/wisconsin-state-senate-milwaukee-bucks-arena-deal-public-money-funding-2015|publisher=[[SB Nation]]|date=July 15, 2015|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120936/http://www.sbnation.com/2015/7/15/8970063/wisconsin-state-senate-milwaukee-bucks-arena-deal-public-money-funding-2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the court, the young roster of the Bucks went through a step backward, to a 33–49 record in the 2015–16 season, though Giannis Antetokounmpo had an encouraging stretch in the final half of the season, accumulating 5 triple-doubles.

On June 18, 2016, ground was broken for the Bucks' new arena.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bucks Break Ground on New Multi-Purpose Arena|url=http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-break-ground-new-multi-purpose-arena/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Bucks.com|date=June 18, 2016|access-date=June 26, 2016|archive-date=June 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622192644/http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-break-ground-new-multi-purpose-arena|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 19, 2016, the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension. In addition, the team would add new young improvements to the roster in drafting [[Thon Maker]] and [[Malcolm Brogdon]], and made trades to bring in [[Tony Snell (basketball)|Tony Snell]] and [[Michael Beasley]]. When the 2016–17 season began, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton, who suffered a torn hamstring during a practice. Even so, the Bucks remained competitive, staying around .500 for the first half of the season, with both Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker leading the offense. While Parker missed making the All-Star team, Giannis was voted in as a starter, becoming the first Bucks All-Star since Michael Redd in 2004.

In January, the Bucks slumped, though fans anticipated a turnaround with Middleton's return on February 8 against the Miami Heat. In the same game, however, Parker tore his ACL for the second time in 3 seasons, ending his season. Even so, Middleton's return still sparked a turnaround in March. During the month, the Bucks went 14–4, putting the team back in the thick of the playoff race. On April 8, 2017, the Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 90–82, clinching the Bucks a playoff spot. On April 10, the Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 89–79 to clinch only the third winning season for the Bucks since 2001. The team finished the 2016–17 regular season with a 42–40 record. Giannis Antetokounmpo made history, becoming only the 5th player in NBA history to lead his team in all five major statistical categories, and was the first in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in the league in each category. The Bucks were the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and lost in the opening round to the Toronto Raptors, 4–2.

On May 23, 2017, Bucks general manager John Hammond stepped down to become general manager with the [[Orlando Magic]].

On January 22, 2018, the Bucks fired [[Jason Kidd]], who had a 23–22 record in the 2017–18 season. In Kidd's three and a half seasons as head coach, the Bucks had a regular-season record of 139–152 and reached the first round of the NBA playoffs in the 2014–15 and 2016–17 seasons.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bucks Relieve Jason Kidd Of Head Coaching Duties|url=http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/bucks-relieve-jason-kidd-head-coaching-duties|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Bucks.com|date=January 22, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=January 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123191229/http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/bucks-relieve-jason-kidd-head-coaching-duties|url-status=live}}</ref> Bucks' assistant coach [[Joe Prunty]] was announced as Kidd's replacement on an interim basis for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Armas|first=Genaro C.|title=Milwaukee Bucks fire coach Jason Kidd|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2018/01/22/milwaukee-bucks-coach-jason-kidd-fired-report|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=January 22, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=January 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123074836/http://www.nba.com/article/2018/01/22/milwaukee-bucks-coach-jason-kidd-fired-report|url-status=live}}</ref> Prunty finished the season with a 21–16 record, leading the Bucks to an overall 44–38 record, their best since the 2009–10 season. Seeded seventh in the 2017–18 Eastern Conference playoffs, the Bucks lost the series to the second-seeded [[2017–18 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]], 4–3.

====2018–2023: under Mike Budenholzer====
On May 17, 2018, the Bucks announced former [[San Antonio Spurs]]' assistant coach and former Atlanta Hawks head coach [[Mike Budenholzer]] as their new head coach.<ref name="Budenholzer hired">{{cite news|title=Mike Budenholzer Named Head Coach Of The Milwaukee Bucks|url=http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/mike-budenholzer-named-head-coach-milwaukee-bucks|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Bucks.com|date=May 17, 2018|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032625/http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/mike-budenholzer-named-head-coach-milwaukee-bucks|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 26, 2018, the Bucks' new arena, [[Fiserv Forum]], opened to the public.

Since 2018, the Bucks host Pride Night at Fiserv Forum, an event to celebrate the [[LGBT community|LGBTQ+ community]]. On January 22, 2022, the annual event was hosted for the 5th time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Pride Night: Milwaukee Bucks to celebrate LGBTQ+ community during Saturday's game |url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/pride-night-milwaukee-bucks-to-celebrate-lgbtq-community-during-saturdays-game |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=TMJ4 News |language=en |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118211207/https://www.tmj4.com//news/local-news/pride-night-milwaukee-bucks-to-celebrate-lgbtq-community-during-saturdays-game |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Bucks stormed through their [[2018–19 Milwaukee Bucks season|2018–19 regular season]], racing out to a 25–10 start en route to finishing 60–22, the fifth 60-win season in franchise history and the first time they had won that many in a regular season since the 1980–81 season. They also finished with the league-best record for the second time in franchise history, equalling their 1970–71 championship season. This earned them home-court advantage in any playoff series for the first time since 2001, and only the second time in the new millennium. On April 22, 2019, the Bucks swept the [[Detroit Pistons]] for their first playoff series win since 2001. On May 8, they eliminated the [[Boston Celtics]] in five games to reach their first Conference Finals since 2001, where they lost to the eventual league champion [[Toronto Raptors]] in six games. After the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the league's [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]]. General Manager Jon Horst won the [[NBA Executive of the Year award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/awards/story/_/id/27003891|title=Every winner, best moments from the 2019 NBA awards show|date=June 25, 2019|work=ESPN.com|access-date=July 1, 2019|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016003426/https://www.espn.com/nba/awards/story/_/id/27003891|url-status=live}}</ref>

In their [[2019–20 Milwaukee Bucks season|2019–20 season]], the Bucks clinched a playoff berth after the team's 56th regular-season game, becoming the fastest team to clinch a playoff spot measured by the number of games played and by the calendar date (February 23) since the NBA changed its playoff format in 1984.<ref name=cancian>{{Cite journal | last = Cancian | first = Dan | title = Can Milwaukee Win 70 Games? Bucks Make NBA History As They Clinch Earliest Playoff Spot In Current Postseason Format | url = https://www.newsweek.com/milwaukee-bucks-playoffs-spot-earliest-date-clinched-70-games-win-1488730 | journal = [[Newsweek]] | date = February 24, 2020 | access-date = March 15, 2020 | archive-date = March 14, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200314065907/https://www.newsweek.com/milwaukee-bucks-playoffs-spot-earliest-date-clinched-70-games-win-1488730 | url-status = live }}</ref> Following the [[suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season]], the Bucks were one of the 22 teams invited to the [[2020 NBA Bubble|NBA Bubble]] to participate in the final 8 games of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release|title=NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019-20 season with 22 teams returning to play|website=www.nba.com|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027164406/https://www.nba.com/news/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 26, the Bucks’ players refused to play in their playoff matchup against the [[Orlando Magic]] following the [[shooting of Jacob Blake]] by police.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/sport/milwaukee-bucks-boycott-playoff-game/index.html | title = Milwaukee Bucks boycott NBA playoff game, league postpones two other games | work = [[CNN]] | date = August 26, 2020 | access-date = August 26, 2020 | archive-date = December 21, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201221143832/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/sport/milwaukee-bucks-boycott-playoff-game/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2020/8/26/21403117/milwaukee-bucks-game-5-boycott-orlando-magic-police-brutality-jacob-blake-shooting|title=The Bucks are sitting out Game 5 against the Magic to protest police brutality|first=James|last=Dator|date=August 26, 2020|website=SBNation.com|access-date=August 27, 2020|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828115823/https://www.sbnation.com/2020/8/26/21403117/milwaukee-bucks-game-5-boycott-orlando-magic-police-brutality-jacob-blake-shooting|url-status=live}}</ref> Antetokounmpo received his second consecutive Most Valuable Player award after returning home from the NBA Bubble upon the Bucks losing in the semi-finals of the [[2020 NBA playoffs]] to the Miami Heat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cacciola |first=Scott |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Milwaukee Bucks Are Eliminated From the Playoffs by the Miami Heat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/sports/basketball/nba-milwaukee-bucks-miami-heat-giannis.html |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213000824/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/sports/basketball/nba-milwaukee-bucks-miami-heat-giannis.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2020 |title=Giannis wins 2nd straight MVP award in landslide |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29913814/sources-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-wins-second-straight-mvp-award |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918230306/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29913814/sources-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-wins-second-straight-mvp-award |url-status=live }}</ref> During the first possession of a [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–21 regular season]] game against the Detroit Pistons on January 6, both teams took a knee in protest to the announcement that criminal charges would not be filed against police officers in the Blake shooting. The Bucks held the ball for seven seconds in reference to Blake's seven gunshots.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Bucks, Pistons take knee on opening possessions |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30665108/milwaukee-bucks-detroit-pistons-take-knee-game-opening-possession |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109195342/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30665108/milwaukee-bucks-detroit-pistons-take-knee-game-opening-possession |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the offseason, the Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a 5-year, $228 million contract extension, the largest contract in NBA history. Along with resigning their superstar, the Bucks also made a trade which resulted in Eric Bledsoe and George Hill being sent to the [[New Orleans Pelicans]] and receiving a former All-Defense player in [[Jrue Holiday]]. The Bucks also strengthened their bench with free agent signings of [[Bobby Portis]] and [[Bryn Forbes]]. In their [[2020–21 Milwaukee Bucks season|2020–21 season]], the Bucks clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46–26, as well as their third consecutive Central Division title. It was the third consecutive season the Bucks had a winning percentage of at least .600, the first time it had happened in franchise history since 1984–86. During the season, the Bucks acquired [[P. J. Tucker]] to further strengthen their defense for the playoffs.

[[File:P20211108AS-1807 (51845519782).jpg|thumb|250px|Members of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrating their 2021 championship at the White House]]
In the [[2021 NBA playoffs]], the Bucks began by defeating the Heat in a four-game sweep in the first round in a rematch of the previous year's Eastern Conference Semifinals. They then defeated the Brooklyn Nets (led by [[Kevin Durant]], [[Kyrie Irving]] and [[James Harden]]) in seven games in the Conference Semifinals, culminating with a Game 7 victory on the road at [[Barclays Center]]. They then defeated the [[Atlanta Hawks]] in six games in the Conference Finals to secure their 3rd NBA Finals appearance in franchise history and their first since [[1973–74 NBA season|1974]]. In the [[2021 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], the Bucks faced the [[Phoenix Suns]], who were favored after defeating the defending champion [[Los Angeles Lakers]] in the Western Conference first round. The Bucks came back from down 2–0 to win the series. Antetokounmpo was named Finals MVP after averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks in the series including a 50-point performance in a 105-98 Game 6 victory at Fiserv Forum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/sports/basketball/milwaukee-bucks-nba-finals-championship.html |title=The Milwaukee Bucks Win the N.B.A. Championship |website=The New York Times |date=July 20, 2021 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721104938/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/sports/basketball/milwaukee-bucks-nba-finals-championship.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Bucks finished 2021–22 with a 51–31 record, their 4th consecutive season with a winning percentage of .600 or better, as well as their 4th consecutive Central Division title, their longest streak of division championships since 1979–1986. Once again with the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks beat the rival [[Chicago Bulls]] 4 games to 1 in the first round, but lost Middleton to a sprained knee in game 2. Without Middleton, the Bucks struggled to find offensive support for Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Though the Bucks had a 3–2 lead in the series, they would lose game 6 at home and game 7 on the road, ending their season.

During the 2022 off-season, the Bucks selected [[MarJon Beauchamp]] and [[Hugo Besson]] with the 24th and 58th overall picks in the [[2022 NBA draft]] respectively. The Bucks also re-signed Portis to a 4-year, $48 million contract as well as [[Wesley Matthews]] and [[Serge Ibaka]] to 1-year deals and [[Jevon Carter]] to a 2-year, $4.3 million deal. The Bucks also signed [[Joe Ingles]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-sign-joe-ingles|title=Milwaukee Bucks Sign Joe Ingles|publisher=NBA|date=July 6, 2022|access-date=June 10, 2023|archive-date=December 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215203151/https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-sign-joe-ingles|url-status=live}}</ref> to a 1-year deal out of free agency. Despite Middleton playing just 33 games over the course of the 2022–23 season, the Bucks finished with a 58–24 record, the best in the league. They went into the [[2023 NBA playoffs]] as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference and faced the Miami Heat in the first round. Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury just a few minutes into the first game of the series following a blocking foul from [[Kevin Love]] as Antetokounmpo was driving to the basket. Antetokounmpo would go on to miss games 2 and 3 and, despite his return for games 4 and 5, the Bucks lost the series 4–1. On May 4, 2023, a week after their series loss, the Bucks announced the firing of Budenholzer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/37424110/sources-bucks-fire-coach-mike-budenholzer-early-exit|title=Bucks fire coach Mike Budenholzer after early exit|publisher=ESPN|date=May 4, 2023|access-date=June 10, 2023|archive-date=June 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610124439/https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/37424110/sources-bucks-fire-coach-mike-budenholzer-early-exit|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2023–present: Coaching changes, arrival of Damian Lillard====
On June 5, 2023, the Bucks announced that former [[Toronto Raptors]] assistant coach [[Adrian Griffin]] would be their new head coach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/the-bucks-got-their-guy-in-adrian-griffin|title=The Bucks got their guy in Adrian Griffin|publisher=NBA|date=June 5, 2023|access-date=June 10, 2023|archive-date=June 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609152717/https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/the-bucks-got-their-guy-in-adrian-griffin|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 27, 2023, the Bucks acquired seven-time all-star point guard [[Damian Lillard]] in a 3-team trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-acquire-seven-time-all-star-seven-time-all-nba-selection-and-nba-75th-anniversary-team-member-damian-lillard|title=Bucks Acquire NBA 75th Anniversary Team Member Damian Lillard|date=September 27, 2023|website=Bucks.com|access-date=November 4, 2023|archive-date=October 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009152819/https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-acquire-seven-time-all-star-seven-time-all-nba-selection-and-nba-75th-anniversary-team-member-damian-lillard|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38505763/sources-blazers-trading-damian-lillard-bucks-3-team-deal|title=Blazers deal Damian Lillard to Bucks in blockbuster 3-team trade|date=September 27, 2023|website=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=November 4, 2023|archive-date=November 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101163946/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38505763/sources-blazers-trading-damian-lillard-bucks-3-team-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 23, 2024, the Bucks fired Griffin after only 43 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bucks-fire-coach-adrian-griffin-after-43-games-reportedly-eyeing-doc-rivers-as-potential-replacement/|title=Bucks fire coach Adrian Griffin after 43 games, reportedly eying Doc Rivers as potential replacement|last=Quinn|first=Sam|date=January 23, 2024|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref> On January 26, 2024, the Bucks named [[Doc Rivers]] as the new head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-hire-doc-rivers-as-head-coach|title=Milwaukee Bucks Hire Doc Rivers as Head Coach|date=January 26, 2024|website=Bucks.com|access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref>

On December 17, 2024, the Bucks won their first [[NBA Cup]], after defeating the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] in the [[2024 NBA Cup championship game|championship game]] in [[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-12-18 |title=Bucks Beat Thunder to Win First NBA Cup, Giannis Antetokounmpo Named MVP |url=https://www.si.com/nba/bucks/news/bucks-beat-thunder-to-win-first-nba-cup-giannis-antetokounmpo-named-mvp-ak1987 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Milwaukee Bucks On SI |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] was named the tournament's MVP.<ref name=":0" /> 

Later in the season, the Bucks would be eliminated in the first round for the third straight season.