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Why does Utah's only professional basketball championship trophy reside in Denver?

Courtesy of the Daniels Fund

DENVER — It’s been quite a drought for professional basketball fans in Salt Lake City and Milwaukee.

More than 48 years have passed since either community celebrated a championship. The Bucks claimed their only NBA title in April 1971. They lost a seven-game finale to the Boston Celtics three years later.

Milwaukee is currently in a battle for another opportunity to seek the NBA’s top prize but trails Toronto 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Utah had chances to win NBA championships in 1997 and 1998, but wound up falling to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the finals — losing in six games both times.