The Milwaukee Bucks released a new four-part documentary podcast, Bucks vs. The World, as Season Six of their official series Behind the Bucks, presented by Gallagher. Narrated by Charlie Berens and produced by Bucks+, the series examines the 1987 McDonald’s Open, the first tournament featuring an NBA team against international professional and national squads.
The podcast explores Milwaukee’s role in shaping global basketball, highlighting how the Bucks’ participation helped pave the way for NBA players in the Olympics and the rise of international stars. Episode one, For the Good of the Game, details FIBA Secretary General Boris Stankovic’s vision and the Bucks’ selection to represent the league against EuroLeague champion Tracer Milan.
Episode two, The World Basketball Revolution, traces the tournament’s global impact, including Tracer Milan’s performance and the NBA’s growing interest in European talent ahead of the Soviet Union national team’s arrival.
Episode three, Glasnost in Milwaukee, examines the Cold War tensions surrounding the tournament and the Soviet team’s dominance over Tracer Milan, highlighting political and cultural dynamics.
The final episode, The Crystal Cup, covers the championship game between the Bucks and the Soviet Union, marking the first NBA vs. national team matchup. The series emphasizes the tournament’s lasting influence, including the Soviet Union’s subsequent Olympic gold medal and FIBA’s decision to allow NBA players in international competition.
Interviews feature former Bucks and NBA figures such as Del Harris, Jack Sikma, Terry Cummings, Don Nelson, Russ Granik, and Rick Welts, alongside European stars Dino Meneghin and Mike D’Antoni, and Soviet players Sarunas Marciulionis and Alexander Volkov. Journalists and broadcasters, including Jack McCallum, Bob Ryan, and Jim Paschke, provide additional context and firsthand accounts.
Production credits include Monis Khan as writer and producer, with Frank Monroe handling audio editing and sound design. Berens’ narration and archival storytelling combine to create a detailed, fact-driven account of a pivotal moment in basketball history.
