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[Saba Sports News] The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the NBA Cup on Tuesday, but their postgame locker room scene didn’t reflect the typical championship celebration.
Milwaukee secured a dominant 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, stifling OKC’s offense in the second half and holding them to just 31 combined points in the final two quarters. Despite the impressive win, the Bucks opted not to celebrate in traditional fashion.
The NBA had stocked their locker room with champagne and safety goggles in preparation for the celebration, but reporters observed that every bottle of champagne remained untouched.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers later revealed that the team intentionally skipped the champagne festivities as a “superstitious” move. Rivers explained that the decision was influenced by assistant coach Darvin Ham, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Cup title last season. Following that win, the Lakers slumped to a 3-10 record in their next 13 games.
The Bucks, aiming to maintain focus on the rest of the season, chose to forgo a celebration that might distract them from their ultimate goal. With Ham now earning a reputation as the unofficial “greatest NBA Cup coach” due to his undefeated streak, Rivers’ decision to heed his advice might prove to be a smart one.