Jim Paschke poured his professional life into the Milwaukee Bucks for 35 years. Recently retired, Paschke was not able to be at Fiserv Forum for the championship clincher Tuesday night. I talked to Jim about that and his thoughts about NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo wearing a t-shirt to honor him after the victory.
Dennis: First of all Jim, congratulations, you are an NBA champion.
Jim: Well, it's not about me Dennis. Thank you, I appreciate that. I am a part of an NBA championship organization, on the way out to retirement, and I couldn't ask for more than that.
Dennis: I know you haven't been able to be at recent games because of an illness. I am going to leave it to you to describe what's going on. I know this has to be very frustrating for you.
Jim: Well, it's simply COVID. I tested positive after coming back from the first two games at Phoenix. I am vaccinated, so the effects have been lessened to a large degree. It did knock me down a little bit. I had to deal with some fatigue and other symptoms. I am on the other side of it now and feeling much better, thank you, but we are not immune and this is not over. Even being vaccinated you can contract COVID-19. It's just one of those things, life isn't fair, correct?
Dennis: I appreciate you sharing. It wasn't fair that you weren't there after 35 years when the Bucks won it all, but it is interesting to me that the Finals MVP Giannis goes out of his way to wear a T-shirt honoring you. What did that mean to you when you saw it?
Jim: I was in tears, but I wasn't surprised, because that's who Giannis is. He is a very unique and authentic human being. I've been saying that for years, and he showed it. This is his greatest professional moment, and he stands up and puts on a T-shirt with my picture on it, because he wanted to bring me along with him. I will forever be grateful for that. I'm humbled by it. I don't even know what to say about it. It's making me a little emotional even as I talk about it, Dennis. It was such a special moment, and that's who Giannis is, and that's why I love him.
Dennis: Besides the T-shirt, just your emotions watching the end of the game and knowing that the fifty year drought of the Bucks not having a championship was over, what went through your mind?
Jim: Too much to recall. There are so many people who sacrificed a great deal to get the Bucks to this point. John Steinmiller has been close to me over these 35 years. Senator Kohl, who saved the team twice, first purchasing, and then selling to the current owners, who have been able to pull this off in such grand fashion. So many things.
Dennis: Does the championship of the Bucks confirm your decision to retire or make you want to come back?
Jim: Neither. My decision was clean. It was based on what I thought was best for me. It doesn't matter if the Bucks won a championship. Obviously, it's a remarkable way to go out. I couldn't ever have imagined anything like this. I always joke, when you want to win a championship, let me know and I'll retire. I didn't think it would happen this quickly. Let's just enjoy the moment, but it really doesn't impact the decision I made for myself, which I still am comfortable with and looking forward to the coming months and years of my career and life. We'll see what happens. It's been a great pleasure and a distinct pleasure.