Bucks owners say NBA Championship was the goal 'from the first minute of the first day'

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Hundreds of thousands of fans were there to greet the Milwaukee Bucks at the end of the NBA Championship parade route on Thursday, July 22.

At the celebration near 5th and McKinley, the players, owners, and leaders of the city, county and state spoke on the main stage.

"Thank you to Herb Kohl for making sure that the Bucks stay right here," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

In 2014, former Sen. Herb Kohl sold the Bucks, and the new owners embarked on a journey together.

"From the first minute of the first day, we wanted to bring a championship to this town, and we did it by putting out a plan and following the plan," said Wes Edens, an owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. "And on Tuesday night, the best player in the world on the best team in the world had the best game of his life, and we are the 2021 World Champions of the NBA."

Bucks' owner Jamie Dinan said the team has now fulfilled two prophecies.

"No. 1: a decade ago, Bucks in six. (No. 2) Five years ago, we stood here at the groundbreaking of what is now Fiserv Forum, we said we would bring the Larry O'Brien trophy here, and we have," Dinan said.

Dinan said there is a third prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled: winning the championship next year and making history once again.

Thursday was dedicated to the Bucks and their most loyal supporters. Crowley declared July 22 "Bucks in Six Day" in Milwaukee County, and Gov. Tony Evers declared it "Bucks in Six Day" across Wisconsin.

"This organization is great, but this team is made up of a bunch of great human beings," Evers said.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the Bucks have become a "unifier."

"They have done something that is sorely needed in this community, in this state and in this nation. They have brought together people of all ages, all races of nationalities. It's a part of our Milwaukee Bucks," Barrett said.

Fans gathered near the stage hours before the celebration began.

"I came here at 7:30 in the morning just waiting for this opportunity to happen," said Bucks fan Aaron Grant. "We won a championship. It's really big. This is amazing."

"I lost my voice a while ago. We've been rooting for this team for so long and they did it," said Bucks fan Saad Khan.

Every sore voice is worth more than the words they could say.

"I love just seeing everyone together. Like the whole city - north side, south side, east side, west side," said Bucks fan Imran Hasan.