1999–2000 Milwaukee Bucks season
The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Bucks' 32nd season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Bucks acquired Danny Manning and re-acquired Dale Ellis from the Orlando Magic, and signed free agents Darvin Ham and J.R. Reid. After missing most of the previous season with an ankle injury, Sam Cassell played a full season as the Bucks won their first three games, and played above .500 in the first half of the season, holding a 26–24 record at the All-Star break. However, they struggled in February posting a 3–9 record as Ellis was traded to the Charlotte Hornets, and Haywoode Workman was released to free agency, and signed with the Toronto Raptors. With less than a month to go, the Bucks playoff chances appeared bleak as they had a 32–37 record in late March. However, down the stretch, they won 10 of their final 13 games to sneak into the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing fifth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.
| 1999–2000 Milwaukee Bucks season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | George Karl |
| General manager | Ernie Grunfeld |
| Owner(s) | Herb Kohl |
| Arena | Bradley Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 42–40 (.512) |
| Place | Division: 5th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Pacers 2–3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WCGV-TV Midwest Sports Channel (Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin) |
| Radio | WTMJ |
Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson were both selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, which was the first All-Star appearance for both players. Allen averaged 22.1 points and 1.3 steals per game, while Robinson averaged 20.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and Cassell provided the team with 18.2 points, 9.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Tim Thomas played a sixth man role, averaging 11.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game off the bench, while Scott Williams contributed 7.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Ervin Johnson provided with 4.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bucks would lose 3–2 to the top-seeded Indiana Pacers, losing Game 5 by just one point, 96–95 at the Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers would lose in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
Following the season, Manning signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz, while in a three-team trade, Vinny Del Negro was traded to the Golden State Warriors, and Reid and second-year forward Robert Traylor were both dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers.