The 2013 NBA offseason was an important one in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise. That summer, they drafted a little-known 18-year-old prospect from Greece named Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th pick in the NBA Draft. Additionally, they traded their own former top-10 pick, point guard Brandon Jennings, to the Detroit Pistons for a package of players that included one Khris Middleton.
Very few could have guessed that the pair would go on to become two of the best players in the history of the Bucks franchise, especially when Milwaukee went 15-67 that year.
Fast forward 12 years, though, and one cannot tell the story of the Bucks franchise without either of them. Giannis, of course, became one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history, has won two NBA MVP Awards, a Defensive Player of the Year Award, and has made nine All-Star teams. He is also the franchise leader in multiple categories including points, rebounds, blocked shots, triple-doubles, and assists.
Khris Middleton Is Also One of the Greatest Players in Milwaukee Bucks History
Giannis deservedly will be forever remembered for many reasons, not the least of which was how he scored 50 points in Game Six of the NBA Finals in 2021 to bring the first championship to the city of Milwaukee in 50 years.
But what many people forget is that, had it not been for Middleton, the Bucks would never have even reached the NBA Finals that year.
When the Greek Freak went down with a hyperextended knee in the Eastern Conference Finals, many people, Bucks fans included, thought that was the end of their run. There was no way they could compete without Giannis.
But Middleton scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out eight assists in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals, leading Milwaukee to victory and a 3-2 series lead. Then he posted 32 points in Game Six, sending his team to the Finals for the first time since 1973.
Of course, Giannis won NBA Finals MVP in 2021, and deservedly so. However, many forget that in Game Four, with the Bucks down 2-1 and facing the prospect of going down 3-1 in the series, it was Middleton who posted a 40-point game and evened the series.
Postseason heroics aside, Middleton is also the Bucks’ franchise leader in three pointers made and attempted. His 12,586 points in a Milwaukee uniform is third in team history, behind Giannis and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Only Giannis has played more games in a Bucks a jersey than Middleton’s 735. Only Giannis has played more minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Calls Khris Middleton “My GOAT”
On Wednesday night, hours after the trade had been announced, Giannis made the following social media post:
My GOAT 🐐💯 pic.twitter.com/Sqx1yOVcUw
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) February 6, 2025
Obviously, he holds Middleton is extremely high regard, saying that, to him, he is the greatest of all time. And while that may be hyperbolic, there is one fact that is undeniable.
In 10-15 years, when they are both retired from the NBA, Giannis’ #34 and Middleton’s #22 will be hanging in the rafters of Fiserv Forum next to each other.
More Milwaukee Bucks News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Bucks Fans Get Emotional as 3x All-Star Khris Middleton Traded to “a Team Going Nowhere”
- “Life Comes at You Fast;” Bucks Star Bobby Portis Reveals Devastating Reason for 6-Game Absence
- Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Wins Huge Individual Award for 11th Time in His Career
- Bucks Receive Huge News About Bobby Portis Ahead of Game vs Hornets
- Giannis Breaks Silence on Khris Middleton Trade; “For Me It’s Bigger than Business”
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