Alex Lasry: Success of Bucks showcases the best of Milwaukee and Wisconsin

Editor's note: Alex Lasry and his father, Marc, sold their shares of the Milwaukee Bucks to  Jimmy and Dee Haslam, a deal that was approved by the NBA's board of governors earlier this month.

Nearly 10 years ago, Sen. Herb Kohl stood at a podium at the Bradley Center and said, “I’m very optimistic, even more so, in the future of this team and this city.” That was a big statement, one that came with a lot of hope and just as much responsibility.

When we took over the team in 2014, we viewed our role as temporary stewards of this great community asset. We believed it was our job to do our best to deliver to Bucks fans and the entire Milwaukee community a team and organization they could be proud of. We wanted to showcase Milwaukee not just as the home of a successful basketball team, but as an international destination and welcoming community that can compete with any other major city in the world.

More: Marc Lasry reflects on his time as Bucks co-owner: 'A phenomenal experience.'

During our first season in 2014-2015, we played the New York Knicks in London. Even though we beat them by 20 points, I was struck by how everyone at the game was wearing Knicks jerseys and cheering for them.

Since that game, a lot has changed. We’ve built a world-class arena, helped to jumpstart the revitalization of downtown Milwaukee, created thousands of good-paying union jobs, and won an NBA Championship!

The Bucks have truly been champions on and off the basketball court. We became the first NBA arena to offer voter registration, marched for social and racial justice, and boycotted a playoff game to show that some things are bigger than basketball.

Over the last couple seasons, during trips to Paris and Abu Dhabi, it’s been a completely different scene. Basketball fans from around the world were repping Milwaukee on their chest. Yes, having the best player in the league who happened to be an international superstar did most of the heavy lifting, but when you talk to fans in those countries, they know about Milwukee and the amazing things happening here.

We’ve brought headline shows, landed national political conventions of both parties, packed one hundred thousand people together into the Deer District, and showed that investing in Milwaukee, specifically west of the river, was a profitable venture.

We set an example for other teams and businesses everywhere that you can run a successful organization while still investing in our communities, treating people with dignity and respect, and standing up for what is right.

This was all possible because of the work, trust, and dedication of this community. Thank you for letting us join you for this amazing ride and for all of your warmth, generosity, support, and friendship. Bucks Nation will forever be a part of our family, and on behalf of Lauren, Eleanor, myself, and the entire Lasry Family, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you and we love you.

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We came to Milwaukee with the promise to not just invest in this team, but in this community and to help grow Milwaukee and Wisconsin. I hope you will agree that we have done that. But that work isn’t done and I look forward to continuing it with you all. Milwaukee is home and will continue to be where Lauren and I raise our family.

When I reflect on the past nine seasons, what I’m most proud of isn’t just the championship and the trophies, but all that we did to help grow this great city, and I can definitely say, just like Senator Kohl did, that I’m even more optimistic about the future of this city and state.

I look forward to being part of this future with you…now let’s go win another championship!

Alex Lasry is former senior vice president of the Milwaukee Bucks and former candidate for the United States Senate.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Co-owners of Milwaukee Bucks thank community for support of team, city.