Milwaukee Bucks

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The roots of this rivalry stretch back to the late 1960s when both franchises were relatively new. The dynamic shifted dramatically in the 1970s when Jerry Sloan's defensive-minded Bulls began challenging Milwaukee, setting a tone of physical basketball that defined their matchups for decades. In the modern era, the narrative flipped significantly. During his tenure with the Bucks, Bobby Portis faced the Bulls multiple times, including a memorable December 4, 2017 game where he scored a then-career-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 115–109 victory. Later, on April 22, 2022, Portis helped the Bucks secure a dominant 111–81 Game 3 win over Chicago in the first round of the playoffs, recording 18 points and 16 rebounds. Even after being traded to Miami in 2026 alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, the history of these clashes remained central to the narrative of both franchises.

In Their Own Story

The arena air hung heavy with tension during a crucial matchup on March 4, 2018. Portis, then with the Bulls, found himself facing his future team, the Bucks. He scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a hard-fought 115–109 win over Milwaukee, setting a new career high at the time. The intensity of this game foreshadowed the roles both players would play in the league's future. Years later, on April 22, 2022, the script had changed. Portis, now wearing green and cream for Milwaukee, dominated his former team. In a decisive first-round playoff Game 3, he posted a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds as the Bucks crushed Chicago 111–81. These moments encapsulate the shifting tides of power between the two cities, where today's star for one franchise was yesterday's opponent for the other.

Reader's Guide

This rivalry was forged in geography and the chaotic expansion era of the late 1960s. Joined within a year of each other, Chicago and Milwaukee immediately clashed for control of the Midwest. The most brutal chapters were written in the 1970s, when Jerry Sloan's defensive-minded Bulls turned every matchup into a grudge match, meeting Milwaukee in the playoffs four times in six seasons. In the modern era, the script flipped: Giannis Antetokounmpo's Bucks reclaimed their status as Eastern Conference titans, forcing a resurgent Bulls team to fight for relevance once again. Specific battles like Bobby Portis's 27-point performance against Milwaukee on March 4, 2018, and his subsequent 16-rebound playoff dominance over Chicago in April 2022 highlight the enduring nature of this Central Division feud.

Did You Know?

• Bobby Portis scored a then-career-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 4, 2018, while playing for the Chicago Bulls.
• On April 22, 2022, as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, Portis recorded 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead his team to an 111–81 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.
• Portis was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat on July 6, 2026, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.