It’s been a LONG wait. Fifty years, to be exact, since they hoisted the trophy. You can expect plenty of Milwaukee Bucks championship memorabilia–from basketball cards to autographs and anything with a deer on it–to be big sellers in the coming days.
With 60,000 fans watching on big screens outside Fiserv Forum and another 20,000 or so inside, it was a kettle about to boil over.
Seconds after the Bucks completed another remarkable playoff comeback to win the 2021 NBA championship, some of it was already on the market.
Here’s a look at some of the Bucks championship merchandise and memorabilia if you’re looking to commemorate the Greek Freak reaching the NBA’s Mount Olympus.
Giannis, Bucks Autographs
He was a scrawny kid from Greece when the Bucks snared him in the 2013 NBA Draft. Now, he’s become one of the faces of the league and after winning the NBA Finals MVP with a 50-point virtuoso in the deciding game on top of two regular season MVP awards puts him on another level. He’s the first to score 50 in a Finals clinching game since… Bob Pettit in 1958.
“Just believe in what you’re doing, keep working. Don’t let nobody tell you what you can’t be and what you cannot do. … It can be done!”
– NBA Champion, Giannis Antetokounmpo 🏆
(via @Bucks)pic.twitter.com/mxWYi844YC
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 21, 2021
His signature isn’t the greatest (I mean, it’s not surprising considering the number of letters in his name), but there has always been a strong supply of Antetokounmpo autographs and prices have been fairly reasonable compared to other superstars. His autograph deal with Fanatics has put a good supply of signed jerseys, basketballs, photos and other items on the market. You can own a ball, with a special championship display case, with Giannis’ autograph, for around $400.
While demand for the other Bucks hasn’t been great, that will change now, at least in Bucks country. Multi-signed Bucks items will be very popular with a fan base that hasn’t enjoyed an NBA title in 50 years. Jrue Holiday, who was the final piece of the team’s championship puzzle, is among those who’ve also reached a deal to sign championship memorabilia.
If you’re a Bucks fan from way back you can also find signed items from Oscar Robertson, whose acquisition was responsible for the early 1970s Bucks going from good to great. There’s even a signed ball featuring coach Larry Costello and some members of that team including the Big O and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Rookie Cards, Bucks Team Sets
With two NBA MVPs under his belt and worldwide appeal, Antetokounmpo has been popular with collectors. His 2013-14 rookie cards are a kick to look at, showing a scrawny teenager who was still a few years from becoming the force of nature he is today. Up until a couple of years ago, you could still snare lower end, unsigned Antetokounmpo rookie cards for just a couple of bucks. You’ll pay more these days, of course but he’s still relatively young and it’s hard to see prices falling too much in the years to come.
There are signed rookie cards that came out of Panini products at a variety of price points (check out the most watched eBay auctions here).
Khris Middleton has been one of the most underrated stars in the league for the last several years and his rookie cards–from his days as a 2nd round draft pick of the Detroit Pistons–are generally pretty reasonable.
Panini America is producing a 30-card boxed set commemorating the Bucks championship (and yes, there will be multiple cards of Antetokounmpo.
You can snare some Bucks team sets from a few different Panini brands and single cards from just about every player on the roster.
Bobbleheads
There will be bobbleheads o’plenty. FOCO has some of the best on the market and you can expect a ton of the ones featuring fan favorite Bobby Portis and the Larry O’Brien trophy to be among the biggest sellers.
A couple of seasons ago, they produced a bobblehead of Giannis mean mugging in front of the Parthenon that’s flat out awesome. For a bigger outlay, you can go back to his rookie season for a draft day bobblehead.
Game Worn Jerseys
MeiGray and NBA Auctions have over 30 Bucks jerseys from Game 1 of the playoffs against Atlanta and Game 1 of the Finals up for auction right now.
Lower Cost Commemoratives
For collectors on a budget, Fanatics has put together a variety of collages highlighting the playoffs and finals, the Bucks’ season and more. Some have small pieces of game-used memorabilia. There’s a 2020-21 collage called “Franchise Foundation” that’s numbered to 414 (Milwaukee area code), which features Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday along with a piece of a game-used basketball, set against an outline of the state of Wisconsin that’s $79.99.
You can see all of the Bucks championship memorabilia as it becomes available on SportsMemorabilia.com.
Apparel
Walk anywhere in Wisconsin, any time of year, and you’ll run into multiple people wearing Green Bay Packers shirts and/or caps. That won’t change, but now you’ll definitely see more Bucks championship shirts and caps, too.
Fanatics has a long list of items you can own for the new era champs.
FOCO will also have some interesting stuff you won’t see anywhere else.
