Behind The Bucks

Author: Bucks

Behind The Bucks is an original longform storytelling podcast series diving into all things Milwaukee Bucks, offering fans a look at Bucks-related topics from the hardwood to the city streets and everything in between. Franchise history, pivotal moments, legendary players, community impact and more Behind The Bucks covers it all, bringing you Bucks stories like you've never heard before.
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Language: en

Genres: Basketball, News, Sports, Sports News

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Episode 4 - Bucks vs. the World - The Crystal Cup
Thursday, 12 February, 2026

When the final game tipped off at the MECCA, the entire basketball world was watching. Narrated by Charlie Berens, Episode 4 of Bucks vs. the World chronicles the championship matchup of the 1987 McDonald’s Open, as the Milwaukee Bucks face the Soviet Union national team in the first NBA game ever broadcast in the USSR and China. With fans from 36 countries tuned in, the Bucks carried not just the league, but the country on their shoulders in a game that felt like far more than an exhibition. The episode follows the tournament’s aftermath, tracing how the Soviet team’s experience in Milwaukee helped fuel their run to Olympic gold in 1988, and how Boris Stanković’s persistence led to the historic 1989 FIBA vote allowing NBA players into international competition. In doing so, the McDonald’s Open became a crucial step toward the Dream Team and the arrival of international stars in the NBA. At its heart, Episode 4 is also the story of Senator Herb Kohl — whose commitment to keeping the Bucks in Milwaukee ensured the city remained part of basketball’s global evolution — connecting the Crystal Cup to the championship banner hanging in Fiserv Forum today.