20 Years ago - Bucks Summer of 2005

[DanoMac]

I'll never forget screaming "SIGN CHAUNCEY BILLUPS" amid the Billups to MKE rumors mid-speech at LH during the 2007 draft party when we drafted Yi. He stopped his speech, kinda laughed and said "you got money to donate?" I knew then and there it was not happening

[DanoMac]

Maybe someone can confirm or provide more insight, but I remember hearing years later that Ray Allen was ready to come back to Milwaukee if Redd left for Cleveland and only re-signed with Seattle after Redd's decision. The entire trajectory changes if Ray comes back and Bogut is treated like a #1 pick. Ford/Mo/Ray/Mase/Bogut would've been a fun team to watch

This is really interesting. Never heard this before. Curious to see if someone can confirm

[Big Dog Yank]

I was just a few months out of college and living in my first apartment on my own. I vividly remember watching the lottery selection before meeting friends out for drinks. Larry Harris looked like he **** his pants when we got the first pick and truly did appear to be a Buck in headlights when the cameras shifted their focus to him.

By that time, I had kinda stopped following college hoops closely, so I only knew Bogut by name and reputation. In those days, getting a franchise center was still the most cherished prize a team could get in the draft, so I was pretty damn excited to nab the Aussie.

As Ron stated, his pro offensive game never resembled his glory days in Utah, and that was super disappointing. And while he eventually rounded into a force, his impact was always overshadowed by Chris Paul and, to a lesser extent, Devon Williams. At least Marvin was clearly worse than Bogut.

But Paul was right on the money in the original post. For a few weeks that summer, it was definitely an exciting time to be a Bucks fan.

[Ron Swanson]

Yeah I really don't get why we're still romanticizing Bogut all these years later. He wasn't a flat out bust by any means, but he was unequivocally a huge disappointment for a #1 overall pick type prospect, and that happened way before his arm got blown up. Hell, even during that FTD year he was a negative Ts added efficiency guy. His offensive game just never developed. Tyson Chandler level ceiling dude who we fooled ourselves into thinking had franchise player potential.

[LUKE23]

I worked for the Bucks in the 2004-05 season (of course leaving right before they won the draft lottery) to complete my masters degree. It was a ticket office job and obviously an extremely tough sell during the 2004-05 season, but had a lot of good perks. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years.

[PG Graveyard]

I think Boguts career is so much different if he doesn’t break his elbow. He was finally starting to become close to the offensive player we thought he could be and then that happened

[th87]

The heyday of the board.

Remember someone had to repair his PC, and it was full of Jenna Jamison videos.

And who was that Bogut whisperer guy who would fly in from time to time?

I do think he could've developed better if the Bucks were cool with letting him learn on the job and not had him gain weight. But unfortunately SkinnyOprah from the JS board was ultimately correct.

[Licensed to Il]

“Freeway” or “MMBOT” on the JS Online boards made talking Bucks 50% more enjoyable. I’ll never forget when he said David Noel would be an all star (“mark my words”) or that we shouldn’t draft Chris Paul because “he’s a foolish nut” after he, you know, punched a guy’s nuts

[Turk Nowitzki]

“Freeway” or “MMBOT” on the JS Online boards made talking Bucks 50% more enjoyable. I’ll never forget when he said David Noel would be an all star (“mark my words”) or that we shouldn’t draft Chris Paul because “he’s a foolish nut” after he, you know, punched a guy’s nuts

From time to time I do find myself missing his unhinged rants.

[TroyD92]

I remember we had a life size Andrew Bogut cardboard thing in our school gym lmao

[AussieBuck]

That was a long ass time ago.

[ReginaldDwight]

Highlights:

Bucks win the lottery and Bogut is #1 over Marvin. Chris Paul slips to #3 because he punched that guy in the nuts and got a bad reputation for it.

L.

The Disrespect to Julius Hodges is strong here.

[LittleRooster]

I was a lurker of this board around that time and it took me a few years to get the guts to make an account because you guys intimidated me with your knowledge

Who was it that posted Harris’ number on here and he would text him? I think he posted it to prove he was actually texting him lol

I miss Europa and his sister. Mbbot was a wild ride

[paulpressey25]

I forgot a huge summer of 2005 free agent signing……….

And he forgot to throw a pizza party for the RealGM guys.

[Profound23]

Can't believe that was 20 years ago...wow

[benultimate]

Winning that lottery is the reason this Aussie is a Bucks fan to this day

[Be Here Now]

Larry Harris looked like he **** his pants when we got the first pick and truly did appear to be a Buck in headlights when the cameras shifted their focus to him.

I remember Bill Simmons really making a point of this. Very meme worthy before memes were really a thing. I always found it a bit bizarre as Larry Harris was usually a natural in media appearances due to his smooth talking and movie star good looks.

I guess the guy did have a hard choice. It was truly one of the odd years where there was no consensus number 1 pick.

[Garbs_7]

Remembering reading that we won the lottery and were in the position to sign Bogut back in the High School Iibrary when I was 15. As an Aussie who was already a Bucks fan, this was incredible and one of those remember where I was at the time type memories

[Garbs_7]

I forgot a huge summer of 2005 free agent signing……….

And he forgot to throw a pizza party for the RealGM guys.

Flintstone you snake! Never forget.

[Plossum]

I was still a Sonics fan when all of this went down