MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks fan Joseph Rivera, 9, was ready early Thursday morning. 

“[I’m] really excited because we just won the championship and there’s going to be a parade!” Rivera told Spectrum News 1’s Andrew Havranek. 

What You Need To Know

  • A parade was held in Milwaukee to celebrate the Bucks first championship since 1971

  • Thousands of fans lined the route, and then made their way to the Deer District for a Championship Celebration 

  • Fans said the championship and parade show Milwaukee is not a “terrible city"

Decked out in Bucks’ NBA Champions gear, Rivera was ready to see some of his favorite players up close, especially NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Photo by Kim Storey

“Because he’s a beast!” Rivera added. 

Rivera said basketball is his favorite sport, and with the home team winning the NBA Championship, he got to share that love of the sport with thousands of other basketball fans. 

“My favorite thing about basketball is probably the fun and stuff watching the game and the exciting times,” Rivera said. 

And, this is most certainly an exciting time for thousands of Bucks fans. They lined up early to get the best spot along the parade route, just to catch a glimpse of their favorite players and the Larry O’Brien Trophy up close. 

The Bucks’ big win has united fans across the city of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin, both young and old. 

There wasn’t a parade for the 1971 Bucks, so in a sense, this was the first time for everyone. 

“I think it’s super exciting. I grew up watching sports with my dad, and we’re not actually from here,” said Emily Isbell from Wauwatosa. "We just really have embraced Wisconsin sports, and we love watching the Bucks and the Brewers. It’s important to be here, I think."

Isbell said the championship and the parade should give ESPN Analyst Steven A. Smith and everyone else across the world to realize one important thing about this city: “We’re not so terrible after all, right?"