Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton share an emotional embrace after the Bucks win their first championship in 50 years (Bucks/Instagram).

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In honor of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020-21 NBA championship, the franchise’s first in 50 years, two longtime Bucks fans share their joyous feelings and thrilling experiences from the past week. First, Frank Madden, host of Locked on Bucks, details his long journey as a fan, including what it meant to witness his very first title alongside the man who introduced him to the Bucks 29 years earlier, his father. Then, Jewell Graham of Gimme a Buck podcast goes through his unforgettable time at the Bucks’ championship parade.

Frank Madden at 4:41-5:03: “For me, having a chance to be in the building and watch the Bucks clinch an NBA title with an historic performance by Giannis, it was pretty much the absolute fantasy of what I’ve always dreamed could be possible. I mean, basically if you had had me write up a script, I wouldn’t even have had the guts to be so bold as to write out what happened in this series and in that last game.”

11:11-12:04: “The day before, my mom had actually texted me, ‘Hey, I don’t know if he’s gonna be able to go ‘cuz big crowds, his balance and going up stairs in a stadium may not be ideal.’ But then on Tuesday, I talked to him. I was just like, ‘Hey, whatever we have to do – if you need to take me by the arm to feel comfortable, whatever we need to – let’s do it. We’ve gotta see this game together.’ And he said ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ …I paid more money for worse seats than we’ve ever had at any other game, and we could not have been happier just to be in the building and experiencing that with all the other people there.”

16:27-16:49: “I think back to, in particular, the Giannis block on Ayton that sealed Game 4. That play, I’ll never forget. The Jrue steal and alley-oop to Giannis, I’ll never forget. I feel like I’ll always remember the TV call as well. Those two plays I think will always stand out the most.”

Jewell Graham at 21:28-22:07: “Our mascot, Bango, comes through first, and the fire truck. You could see just a see of people on both sides. The music is going, and they’ve got confetti that pops out. Bango is throwing T-shirts to the crowd. Everyone’s yelling. It is a great time. And then they had more buses come. … It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced. Just everybody’s so happy and just living in the moment.”

23:01-23:14: “My favorite from the parade had to be P.J. Tucker. PJ Tucker was the livest guy on the team.”

27:27-28:13: “After the announcer’s like, ‘Yo, wait, wait, wait,’ it’s Ben – he’s our guy that sung the national anthem game for us every home playoff game – singing “We Are the Champions.” It was like picture perfect. And as he’s singing that, we get fireworks coming from up top of the Fiserv Forum.”

34:08-34:28: “Giannis is 26 years old, and he has pretty much every individual accolade. Like, what’s next for…? I just hope he doesn’t lose that hunger. I still need that mean mug, and I need him to want more and more and more.”

*OTNB guest Eric Nehm’s post-title feature on Giannis and his excellent story with Sam Amick were referenced in the interview with Graham. 

*The Locked on Bucks reaction episode to the Bucks’ championship

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Music: “Who Likes to Party” by Kevin MacLeod.