Even though Khris Middleton has won a ring than most stars in the league, he has remained right behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in the Milwaukee Bucks’ hierarchy. Turns out, the same can be applied to his place in the NBA when it comes to small forwards.
Middleton had a promising high school career at Porter-Gaud School before playing college basketball at Texas A&M from 2009 to 2012. During his sophomore year, he led his team in scoring and garnered All-Big 12 honors.
The All-Star forward entered the 2012 NBA Draft and was selected in the second round by the Detroit Pistons. His rookie season saw limited playing time, leading to a stint with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the then-NBA Developmental League. In 2013, he was traded to the Bucks, where he quickly became a key player.
Over his tenure in Milwaukee, Middleton’s contributions have been significant. He achieved his first All-Star selection in 2019 and played a crucial role in the team’s 2021 championship victory, their first in 50 years. He has been recognized for his scoring ability and defensive skills, often referred to as their primary 3-and-D player.
In subsequent seasons, Middleton faced challenges, including injuries that affected his performance, but he consistently bounced back. He signed a three-year contract extension in July 2023, further solidifying his place in the franchise’s history.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton Ranked 22nd in List of Top 30 NBA Small Forwards
There’s no denying how important Middleton’s impact has been for the Bucks during his stay with the team. The thing is, there are just other better players at his position, as evidenced by an article written by Frank Urbina for Hoops Hype.
“A player who might be on the downturn of his career, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton has appeared in just 88 regular-season games over the past two seasons combined, averaging just 15.1 points on 35.5 percent shooting from three over that stretch, not quite looking the All-Star he was just three seasons ago when he put up a 20/5/5 stat line.
On the other hand, Middleton just turned 33, and although not everyone is going to put up a LeBron-type performance against Father Time, that’s still young enough to think Middleton could have a resurgence in 2024-25 and make our current ranking of him look silly,” Urbina wrote.
While his regular season numbers during the previous campaign don’t necessarily pop out, his playoff performance against the Indiana Pacers in the first round was noteworthy. During that series, Middleton averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 rebounds in a series without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup.
It remains to be seen whether his 22nd-place ranking is true or the Bucks star can rise up a couple more places in the list as the season goes along. In any case, Middleton will remain an integral part of Milwaukee’s campaign when the NBA returns soon.
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