Although the Milwaukee Bucks have had their own share of key contributors, their history could have looked very different. According to Brandon Jennings, the team nearly passed on a future superstar. If the Bucks had not chosen the more experienced Monta Ellis, Jennings would have been paired with a young Stephen Curry in the backcourt, changing the course of both the Bucks’ and Curry’s futures.
Jan 26, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jennings recounted the story on an episode of the “Gil’s Arena Show,” where his co-host Gil teased him, saying the Bucks would have traded him if they had added another point guard. Laughing, Jennings reflected on how few believed Steph could overcome his early setbacks and grow into one of the NBA’s greatest players. Back then, Curry was viewed mostly as a fragile, injury-prone guard rather than the all-time greatest shooter he would eventually become.
Brandon Jennings and Stephen Curry manning the Bucks backcourt
Mar 9, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) dribbles past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second quarter at ORACLE arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
“That would be me and Steph Curry in the backcourt in Milwaukee. I’m talking about early, though. It was Bogut (that the team wanted to trade) and I think someone else. They wasn’t gonna trade me. We had Bogut at the time, and they needed a big. I’m just saying for real. But we ended up getting Monta. So, the reason why they didn’t trade for Steph was because of his ankle, at the time. That’s the only reason Steph didn’t come.” said the former Bucks guard.
Steph Curry and Brandon Jennings almost teamed up for the Milwaukee Bucks 👀 pic.twitter.com/lVv3EAf1pH
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) November 10, 2025
The 2011-12 season proved challenging for Curry. Hampered by persistent ankle injuries, he appeared in just 26 games, averaging 14.7 points. At the same time, Monta Ellis served as the team’s primary offensive weapon, scoring 21.9 points over 37 regular-season games. When the decision came, the Bucks went with the more experienced and reliable Ellis rather than pairing young Curry alongside Jennings in the backcourt.
Jennings’ story perfectly illustrates just how misjudged Curry was in his early days. Injuries and modest production made him seem far from a guaranteed star, and few imagined he would develop into a generational talent. Yet the Warriors demonstrated remarkable patience and belief in him, and it paid off massively. Once he fully recovered, his ascent was nothing short of meteoric.
Mar 7, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Team LeBron guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) and Team LeBron forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) before the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Looking back, that trade decision ranks as one of the biggest “what-ifs” in recent NBA history. It is impossible to know where the Bucks might have gone, particularly since Steph’s prime and Giannis’ emergence happened around the same time.