The 1975-76 Milwaukee Bucks had a challenging season, finishing with a 38-44 record. This placed them fourth in the Midwest Division, thus missing the playoffs. The team struggled to find consistency after trading Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Los Angeles Lakers before the season, a move that significantly impacted their performance.
Under head coach Larry Costello, the Bucks were in a rebuilding phase. The roster featured key players like Elmore Smith and Brian Winters, who led the team in scoring. Despite their efforts, the Bucks couldn’t replicate their past success, highlighted by a lack of depth and experience.
Throughout the season, the Bucks faced tough competition and were unable to maintain momentum. Their record reflected their struggle to adapt post-Kareem, marking a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history as they looked towards future rebuilding efforts.
- Regular Season Record: 38-44
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-2
Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats for 1975-76 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob Dandridge | 73 | 21.5 | 7.4 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 22.0 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Winters | 78 | 18.2 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 27.3 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Elmore Smith | 78 | 15.6 | 11.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.7 | 7.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 0.0 |
| Jim Price | 80 | 11.7 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 81 | 8.6 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 8.3 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Brokaw | 75 | 8.5 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 21.0 | 3.7 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Meyers | 72 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 8.0 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Restani | 82 | 6.0 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clyde Mayes | 65 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jon McGlocklin | 33 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Fox | 70 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Mickey Davis | 45 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee Bucks in the 1976 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the first round of the 1976 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks faced off against the Detroit Pistons in a tightly contested three-game series. Despite a strong effort from their roster, the Bucks were ultimately eliminated after losing the series 2-1, with the decisive game seeing the Pistons securing a narrow victory. This marked a disappointing end to the Bucks' season, as they struggled to capitalize on their opportunities in the crucial moments of the series.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 110-107 | |
| Apr 15, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 126-123 | |
| Apr 18, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 107-104 |
Milwaukee Bucks 1975-76 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1975-76 season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1975 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 91-87 | |
| Oct 28, 1975 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-92 | |
| Oct 31, 1975 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 100-85 | |
| Nov 01, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-97 | |
| Nov 02, 1975 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-89 | |
| Nov 04, 1975 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 103-101 | |
| Nov 07, 1975 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-101 | |
| Nov 08, 1975 | @ Washington Bullets | W 99-95 | |
| Nov 11, 1975 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-81 | |
| Nov 12, 1975 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-84 | |
| Nov 14, 1975 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 112-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1975 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-89 | |
| Nov 19, 1975 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 96-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1975 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-104 | |
| Nov 23, 1975 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-104 | |
| Nov 27, 1975 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 106-105 | |
| Nov 28, 1975 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 89-69 | |
| Nov 29, 1975 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 88-85 | |
| Dec 03, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-92 | |
| Dec 05, 1975 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 103-95 | |
| Dec 09, 1975 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-100 | |
| Dec 10, 1975 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-98 | |
| Dec 12, 1975 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 109-91 | |
| Dec 17, 1975 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 116-111 | |
| Dec 20, 1975 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 124-87 | |
| Dec 21, 1975 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-101 | |
| Dec 23, 1975 | vs. New York Knicks | L 110-108 | |
| Dec 26, 1975 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 85-81 | |
| Dec 27, 1975 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 87-82 | |
| Dec 28, 1975 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 88-85 | |
| Dec 30, 1975 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 118-106 | |
| Jan 02, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 98-83 | |
| Jan 03, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 126-101 | |
| Jan 06, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 91-87 | |
| Jan 07, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-102 | |
| Jan 09, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 102-95 | |
| Jan 10, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 107-87 | |
| Jan 11, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 95-89 | |
| Jan 13, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-108 | |
| Jan 16, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 94-92 | |
| Jan 18, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 97-94 | |
| Jan 20, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-108 | |
| Jan 23, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 113-97 | |
| Jan 24, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 132-89 | |
| Jan 26, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 115-104 | |
| Jan 27, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 107-89 | |
| Jan 29, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 105-96 | |
| Jan 31, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 90-88 | |
| Feb 01, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-97 | |
| Feb 06, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 109-104 | |
| Feb 07, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 114-106 | |
| Feb 10, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | L 104-97 | |
| Feb 11, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-95 | |
| Feb 13, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 95-89 | |
| Feb 15, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 113-105 | |
| Feb 17, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 113-112 | |
| Feb 20, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 22, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 115-112 | |
| Feb 28, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 112-99 | |
| Mar 02, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 111-109 | |
| Mar 04, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 99-95 | |
| Mar 07, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 113-97 | |
| Mar 10, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 117-101 | |
| Mar 13, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 121-118 | |
| Mar 14, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 108-106 | |
| Mar 17, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 109-96 | |
| Mar 20, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-106 | |
| Mar 21, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 130-111 | |
| Mar 23, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-97 | |
| Mar 24, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 135-110 | |
| Mar 26, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 123-92 | |
| Mar 27, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-99 | |
| Mar 28, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-100 | |
| Mar 30, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 130-126 | |
| Apr 02, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 120-107 | |
| Apr 03, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 115-106 | |
| Apr 05, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 102-97 | |
| Apr 07, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-96 | |
| Apr 09, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | W 106-100 | |
| Apr 11, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 111-77 |