Traveling to Milwaukee means a return to where Ersan Ilyasova began his NBA career.
Twelve years later, it also means a return to his family when the Sixers visit the Bucks on Monday afternoon at the Bradley Center.
Ilyasova planted roots in Milwaukee during his seven seasons with the Bucks, who drafted him in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft. Though he has played for four teams since the Bucks traded him to the Pistons in the summer of 2015, Ilyasova has maintained a home base in the city he adopted after coming to the NBA from Europe.
"I kind of grew up there," he said. "It's a lot of time spent."
Ilyasova's lengthy tenure with his first team - which doesn't always happen in the NBA - afforded him and his family the time to make Milwaukee their home.
His wife and three young children (daughters ages eight and five years old and son age three years old) have remained there while Ilyasova has moved around the league frequently. He has been a member of the Pistons, Magic, Thunder and Sixers in a matter of two seasons.
"It's a huge thing," Ilyasova said. "I haven't seen the girls for two months now - a lot of Skype and FaceTime. I see my son, he flies back and forth with my wife."
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The Sixers flew to Milwaukee on Sunday from Washington, D.C. after Saturday night's loss to the Wizards at the Verizon Center. Ilyasova planned to stay at his house and catch up on the time he has missed while being away from his family. This includes missed time during the holidays while the team was on a west coast road trip.
"It's always really exciting," Ilyasova said. "They're counting the days when I will come. They're all excited to come to the game."
Another highlight of being back in Milwaukee? A home-cooked meal.
"They're already preparing it," Ilyasova said. "It's duck with apples in it."
