Ben Steele

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sidney Moncrief has always been proud and persistent, two qualities that as a basketball player made him one of the best defensive guards in NBA history.

So the former Milwaukee Bucks standout handled the news of being selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in characteristic fashion.

"It was like, ‘Cool,' " Moncrief said on Sunday while taking in the Bucks' 115-107 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum. "It was nice. A long time coming, but it was not anything that I obsessed about.

"Like some players, it’s really the center of their existence. For me, it was nice to have it, but it wasn’t like if I didn’t make it, life was going to end or I would be bitter. I would be a little upset, but not bitter. But I’m just happy it was a very good call."

Moncrief was drafted fifth overall by the Bucks in 1979 and he played 10 of his 11 NBA seasons in Milwaukee.

He was named the NBA's defensive player of the year in 1983 and '84, and was on the league's all-defensive team four straight seasons from 1983-'86.

The five-time all-star ranks third on the Bucks' all-time list in points (11,594), second in games played (695), first in free throws made (3,505), second in assists (2,689) and third in steals (874).

When it was announced Saturday that Moncrief finally had earned basketball's highest honor, he was bombarded by congratulatory calls and text messages.

"It was good," Moncrief said. "People celebrate your success because they were a big part of supporting you.

"Teammates, coaches, fans, friends and family. That’s what it’s all about. That’s the best part about getting the call, you get to celebrate it with people that are close to you."

Moncrief made sure to personally deliver the news to Don Nelson, his coach with the Bucks on those successful teams in the early 1980s.

"I called Nellie and told him I had made it," Moncrief said. "And he said, ‘Good, Sid. Now I can have a beer.’ Which means he probably had six beers before that beer. He never needs an excuse."

Moncrief, 61, lives in Dallas and has his own consulting business. He makes it back to Milwaukee often to work with clients and do community work for the Bucks.

He has very fond memories of his playing days in the city.

“I think about the MECCA," Moncrief said. "(Former Bucks general manager) Wayne Embry had a McDonald’s restaurant across from the MECCA. And I think about after each game, we had to walk to our cars – which is two blocks, a block-and-a-half.

"And the fans were very close to you. And that was beautiful because they got to talk to you. Got to shake your hand. Got to get autographs. Didn’t matter if it was 50 degrees or minus-2 degrees, there was always someone wanting to talk with you about the game and say, 'Hey, I’m a big fan.' "

The 2019 hall of fame class will be inducted Sept. 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Moncrief is already pondering his speech.

"I had a couple thoughts in mind," he said. "Keep it short. That’s the main one. They made that very clear we have a very strict time limit. I’m OK with that.”

Contact Ben Steele at (414) 224-2676 or bmsteele@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenSteeleMJS or Instagram at @bensteele_mjs