# 1976–77 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1976–77 NBA season was the Bucks' ninth season in the NBA. It was also the first without Jon McGlocklin, the last remaining member of the Bucks' roster from the team's inaugural season.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 7 | Quinn Buckner | SG | United States | Indiana |
| 2 | 23 | Alex English | SF | United States | South Carolina |
| 2 | 24 | Scott Lloyd | C/PF | United States | Arizona State |
| 3 | 40 | Lloyd Walton | PG | United States | Marquette |
| 4 | 59 | Dan Frost | | United States | Iowa |
| 5 | 75 | Tom Lockhart | | United States | Manhattan |
| 5 | 77 | James Rappis | | United States | Arizona |
| 6 | 92 | Phil Spence | F | United States | North Carolina State |
| 7 | 112 | Ron Barrow | | United States | Southern |
| 8 | 129 | Bob Warner | | United States | Maine |
| 9 | 146 | Benny Shaw | | United States | Central Florida |
| 10 | 165 | Hugo Cabrera | | Dominican Republic | East Texas State |

## Regular season

The Milwaukee Bucks rebuild in the wake of the trade of Kareem Abdul Jabbar to the Lakers following the 1974-75 NBA season hit bottom in 1976. Head Coach Larry Costello resigned following a 3–15 start. Assistant Coach Don Nelson took over the team but the Bucks slide continued as they eventually fell to 4-25. The Bucks turned things around as the young nucleus began to gel and the Bucks went 26-27 the rest of the way.

### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Denver Nuggets | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 36–5 | 14–27 | 15–5 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 44 | 38 | .537 | 6 | 30–11 | 14–27 | 12–8 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 44 | 38 | .537 | 6 | 31–10 | 13–28 | 10–10 |
| Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 10 | 28–13 | 12–29 | 7–13 |
| Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 14 | 25–16 | 11–30 | 9–11 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 | 24–17 | 6–35 | 7–13 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 50 | 32 | .610 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9 |
| 6 | x-Chicago Bulls | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9 |
| 7 | Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
| 8 | Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13 |
| 9 | Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 17 |
| 10 | Phoenix Suns | 34 | 48 | .415 | 19 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 23 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | NYN | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–4 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Buffalo | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Denver | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| Detroit | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Houston | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| N.Y. Knicks | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 |
| N.Y. Nets | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — |

### Game log

1976–77 game log Total: 30–52 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) :
October: 1–5 (home: 1–2; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 21, 1976Buffalo
L 112–133
MECCA Arena
0–1
2October 23, 1976Boston
L 107–111 OT
MECCA Arena
0–2
3October 24, 1976@ Atlanta
L 91–115
Omni Coliseum
0–3
4October 26, 1976@ Chicago
L 88–90
Chicago Stadium
0–4
5October 28, 1976@ Denver
L 100–119
McNichols Sports Arena
0–5
6October 30, 1976Chicago
W 102–74
MECCA Arena
1–5 :
November: 2–6 (home: 2–3; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
7November 2, 1976Seattle
W 125–113
MECCA Arena
2–5
8November 3, 1976@ Washington
L 105–117
Capital Centre
2–6
9November 4, 1976@ Cleveland
L 88–96
Coliseum at Richfield
2–7
10November 6, 1976Denver
L 103–105
MECCA Arena
2–8
11November 9, 1976Cleveland
L 90–111
MECCA Arena
2–9
12November 12, 1976Houston
W 111–99
MECCA Arena
3–9
13November 13, 1976N. Y. Knicks
L 97–110
Madison Square Garden
3–10
14November 14, 1976Detroit
L 84–104
MECCA Arena
3–11 :
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1976–77 schedule :

## Player statistics

Player statistics :
| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Bob Dandridge | 70 | 35.7 | 46.7 | 77.1 | 6.3 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 20.8 |
| Brian Winters | 78 | 34.8 | 49.8 | 84.7 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 19.3 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 82 | 29.4 | 44.9 | 86.4 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 14.4 |
| Swen Nater | 72 | 27.2 | 52.8 | 75.4 | 12.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 13.0 |
| Dave Meyers | 50 | 25.2 | 46.7 | 66.1 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 9.7 |
| Gary Brokaw | 41 | 21.7 | 40.1 | 76.6 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 8.9 |
| Quinn Buckner | 79 | 26.5 | 43.4 | 53.9 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 8.6 |
| Elmore Smith | 34 | 23.2 | 44.7 | 58.1 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 8.4 |
| Fred Carter | 47 | 18.6 | 41.6 | 75.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 8.3 |
| Jim Price | 6 | 18.5 | 51.2 | 77.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 8.2 |
| Scott Lloyd | 69 | 14.9 | 47.2 | 75.4 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| Kevin Restani | 64 | 17.4 | 51.8 | 50.0 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 5.6 |
| Alex English | 60 | 10.8 | 47.7 | 76.7 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.2 |
| Rowland Garrett | 33 | 11.6 | 45.2 | 79.3 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.7 |
| Lloyd Walton | 53 | 12.8 | 46.8 | 81.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| Mickey Davis | 19 | 8.7 | 42.6 | 92.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 4.3 |
| Glenn McDonald | 9 | 8.8 | 23.5 | 75.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.1 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 2, 1976 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- 1977 1st round pick (Tate Armstrong) | To Buffalo Braves---- Jim Price |
| January 13, 1977 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Rowland Garrett | To Cleveland Cavaliers---- Gary Brokaw Elmore Smith |