Milwaukee Bucks

An expansion team that began in the East before moving to the West in 1970.

The Milwaukee Bucks joined the league as an expansion team in 1968 and were initially placed in the Eastern Division. In 1970, during a major realignment that created the Atlantic, Central, Midwest, and Pacific divisions, the Bucks moved from the Eastern Division to the Western Conference. This shift occurred alongside other relocations, such as the Atlanta Hawks moving to the Eastern Conference, marking a significant structural change in how teams were organized across the league.

Quick Facts

Primary era: 1968–1970
Franchise status: Expansion Team (1968)
Conference alignment: Eastern Division (1968), Western Conference (1970)

Lore & Background

Specific movements rather than game narratives. In 1968, the Bucks entered as an expansion team and joined the Eastern Division. The following year, the league reorganized into two conferences with four new divisions. While most teams remained in their conference namesake, the Bucks were explicitly moved from the Eastern Division to the Western Conference. This realignment also saw the Detroit Pistons move from the Eastern Division to the Western Conference at the same time. These changes set the stage for future matchups as the league expanded further into Texas and Canada in subsequent years.

Reader's Guide

Understanding the Milwaukee Bucks' early history requires tracking their divisional shifts between 1968 and 1970. Initially an expansion team in the Eastern Division, their placement changed during the 1970 realignment. The league established four new divisions: Atlantic and Central for the East, Midwest and Pacific for the West. The Bucks moved to the Western Conference during this process. This specific alignment period is distinct from later expansions like the arrival of the Dallas Mavericks in 1980 or the Toronto Raptors in 1995. Fans looking at this era should note that the team was placed in a different conference than their division name might suggest, as they moved from the Eastern Division to the Western Conference.