LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Milwaukee Bucks leave here as the NBA postseason’s biggest failure and proudest success, named Most Disappointing and Most Inspiring in your NBA Bubble Yearbook. The Bucks lost early but made history; we will celebrate them in 30 years but not next month.
On Aug. 26, in the wake of Jacob Blake’s shooting in their home state, the Bucks declined to play. On Sept. 8, the Miami Heat sent them home. Both dates define the team, in some way. It would have been a story for the ages if the Bucks won a championship a few weeks after starting a multi-sport walkout for social justice.