It was a strange thing for Milwaukee Bucks fans to see Khris Middleton suit up for another team for the first time in 12 seasons. No doubt it was strange too–stranger–for longtime teammates like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.
Playing on opposite sides, Giannis scored 18 points on 6-9 from the floor and the Bucks escaped with a 104-101 win in Washington. Back in a starting lineup, in his first appearance as a Wizard and first game since February 2, Middleton recorded 12 points, 5 boards, and 2 steals.
Postgame, the on-court striving done, he shared hugs with Giannis and Doc Rivers.
Family. pic.twitter.com/Y4mI6UhCNo
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 22, 2025
Speaking to reporters, the Greek Freak gave his thoughts on Middleton’s character as a player and what he brings to the rebuilding Wizards.
Khris Middleton No Longer Dons Milwaukee Bucks Laundry, But Giannis Antetokounmpo Razzed Him Postgame Just Like Old Times
“We were terrified,” Antetokounmpo said of Washington’s final play. With the Bucks up three, a curling Middleton received the in-bound pass in front of the Milwaukee bench, rising for a triple that hit off the backboard with three seconds left. He had just cashed from beyond the arc less than a minute earlier to cut the lead to one.
“You know how quick it flips. Usually I’m like, ‘Make it Khris!’ Today I was like, ‘Miss it Khris!’ Crazy,” Giannis laughed.
At that point, he was watching on the sidelines after fouling out with 3:36 to go. It was not Antetokounmpo’s best performance. Compounding his minutes restriction, fouls kept him to just 19 minutes of action. He amassed more personals and turnovers, 6 and 7, than rebounds and assists (6 and 3).
When available, however, he provided just enough for the visitors to fly home victorious. In the handshake line after the buzzer, it was all love between Middleton and his erstwhile allies.
Giannis put on a playful mood. “Happy to see him out there. It looks weird. He looks weird with that jersey on. He does not make that jersey look good at all.”
Weird might be an understatement. Antetokounmpo had not played a game in his career without Middleton on the roster, who played only his 28th as a non-Milwaukee Buck–Friday night plus 27 with Detroit as a rookie.
“We had a few laughs on the court. Miss that guy. Definitely miss that guy.”
From the Lizards Back to Wizards?
In full-on tank mode, the 9-46 Wizards are trying to do anything but win in 2024-25. They have gone since 2017-18 without a winning season. If their current winning percentage holds, it would be a franchise low.
According to Giannis, Middleton can guide them in the right direction:
He’s a winner. He’s not going to stand around. You can tell. Even though today, he had like 15 points, I don’t know how many points he had, he makes winning plays. He pulled aside [Alex] Sarr and talked to him. He pulled aside [Jordan] Poole and talked to him. He’s a winner. The last 7 or 8 years he’s played winning basketball. He does not know how to lose.
By adding veterans like Middleton and Marcus Smart at the trade deadline, perhaps Washington can groom its young talent into a successful core. Under contract through next season, Middleton provides valuable experience and mentorship.
“He’s definitely going to help the team turn it around–if they want to turn it around,” Giannis continued. “At the end of the day, there are 15 players on the team, there’s only so much that one player can do.”
The 7-foot Sarr, a 19-year-old rookie, is averaging 11.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG. He led his team against Milwaukee with 22 points. While efficiency remains a problem for Poole, he is scoring a career-high 21.0 PPG this season to go with 4.9 APG and improved three-point shooting (36.7%).
Sophomore Bilal Coulibaly is contributing 12.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 3.5 APG and is only 20. The 14th pick in last year’s draft, guard Bub Carrington, another 19-year-old, is showing excellent promise in his rookie campaign. Middleton is there to help them grow.
“He can bring veteran leadership, he’s going to be vocal, he’s going to play the right way, put everybody in the right spot. And definitely he’s able to get his. If you run a play for him to score, make a play, he’s going to make the right play.”
Khris is there, that is, to help the youngsters grow and get his buckets in the meantime–even at thirty-three, coming off bilateral ankle surgery, on any given play Kha$h can still do that with the best of them.
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