words // Brandon Richard
images // Nick DePaula
Later today, the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls will tip-off the 2010-2011 Eastern Conference Finals with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Big time cities and superstar names are aplenty in this year's eastern final, but it was just 10 years ago when the small market Milwaukee Bucks were in the exact same position.
Before stacked rosters were the norm amongst the NBA's elite, the Buck's floored a trio of Ray Allen, "Big Dog" Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell known as "The Big 3." These three, who combined for 62 points a night, guided the Bucks to a 52-win regular season and playoff series wins over T-Mac's Orlando Magic and Jamal Mashburn's Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately, they ran into the one-man show known as Allen Iverson and his Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals and were ousted in a well-contested seven game series.
Since that season, the Bucks have not advanced past the first round, a trend they'd like to reverse under the floor generalship of point guard Brandon Jennings. Paying tribute to the Bucks' heritage, Under Armour and Brandon Jennings came together for this old school Bucks colorway of Jennings' first signature shoe, the Micro G Black Ice. The shoe sports a perforated white leather base with purple overlay rands on the toebox and heel. Purple also appears on the cross-strap, tongue and outsole, while Milwaukee green is used for the laces.
To our disappointment, Brandon never got a chance to wear these in a game this past season, but you can take a closer look at the 'Retro Bucks' Black Ice Low below.
