Back in 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson were the dynamic duo that secured the Milwaukee Bucks their first-ever NBA championship. Fast-forward to 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their second title alongside Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Now, with Damian Lillard in the mix, the question is whether this new pairing of Giannis and Dame can recreate that championship magic. According to Robertson himself, they’ve got what it takes—but it’s all about building that bond.

Journalist Rachel Nichols recently caught up with Robertson, asking him about the potential of the Giannis-Lillard combo. The Hall of Famer’s take? “It’s getting much better. It’s not where it should be, but I think it’s getting much, much better,” he shared. The 1971 champ didn’t shy away from emphasizing how powerful the pairing could become, stating, “Two great athletes… it might take a little bit, but they’ll finally get it together.”

When pressed further on what the duo needs to fine-tune, Robertson reflected on his own experience with Kareem. He revealed how he adapted his game to support the big man: “When I played with Kareem, I knew what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, and I’ll never forget this,” Robertson said. “When I went up there, I was sitting with my wife, and I told her, I said, ‘I’m not going to score like I did before. She said, why? I said, because I got to get these other guys in the game.'” 

Joining the Bucks in 1970 after a stellar decade with the Cincinnati Royals, Robertson came in as the league’s triple-double king and a former MVP. His addition was the final piece in Buck’s championship puzzle.

That Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson duo’s dominance in 1971 was unparalleled, as they dropped only two games on their title run, capping it with a clean sweep of the Baltimore Bullets. While the Giannis-Lillard connection is still a work in progress, can they do it?

Can Giannis and Dame replicate Robertson-Abdul-Jabbar story?

If that’s the question, then as per another NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, the answer is yes. Last year, Shaq took to Instagram with a bold comparison, showcasing a “then and now” image of the Robertson-Abdul-Jabbar duo alongside the newly formed Antetokounmpo-Lillard partnership. The message was clear: Shaq is ready to see these two take the court by storm. And after years of dominance by Giannis, Milwaukee might just have added the missing piece to their championship puzzle.

Last season, Giannis did what he does best, averaging an impressive 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Lillard also held his own, putting up 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7 assists. The pair led the Bucks into the playoffs, but an early exit at the hands of the Pacers showed they weren’t quite there yet.

So what’s next for them? Lillard has to adapt quickly, much like Oscar Robertson did back in 1971. Robertson was already an assist king, and a proven star when he joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Milwaukee. Yet, instead of dominating, he molded his game to elevate the rising Abdul-Jabbar. Robertson, already a seven-time assist champ, averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds during their title-winning season. It’s a lesson Dame may need to follow if he hopes to bring Milwaukee another championship.

For Lillard, that means reining in his scoring instincts and becoming a true facilitator. In Portland, he controlled every play, but here, he’s surrounded by All-Stars like Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez. If he makes the adjustment, this Bucks team could rewrite history, replicating the magic of Milwaukee’s iconic 1971 run.