![]() He is expected to fully recover and return to the court in July. In June, Middleton underwent surgery on his right knee. Middleton started 19 of his 33 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 24.3 minutes, but started all five of Milwaukee’s postseason matchups and put up 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game before the team was eliminated by the Heat in five games in the first round. Behind a historic performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals to clinch their first championship in 50 years. He played one year in Detroit before being acquired by the Bucks and has spent the past 10 seasons in Milwaukee. The Detroit Pistons drafted Middleton in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Not only was Lopez runner-up for NBA Defensive Player of the Year last season, but also he averaged 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds while hitting a career-high 37.4 percent from behind the 3-point line. The 35-year-old center is coming off one of his best seasons and that has drawn the attention of other teams, especially the Houston Rockets. Re-signing Middleton was the first, now they need to figure out how to retain Brook Lopez. The Bucks entered the offseason with two major moves to make to keep themselves in the title picture. Antetokounmpo’s usage surged to a career-high level and the offense finished the season outside of the top 10 in efficiency for the first time during the Mike Budenholzer era. His absence dramatically impacted the Bucks’ offensive success. Last season, though, Middleton played in just 33 games as he worked through right knee issues. He has been named to three All-Star teams during that time. Outside of Antetokounmpo, Middleton has been the team’s most consistent halfcourt offensive threat for the last five years. Nehm What does Middleton mean to the Bucks? Signing Middleton ensures Milwaukee keeps its big 3 intact for another season and keeps the Bucks in a position where they have enough top-end talent to continue to contend for championships during the prime of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks would have lost Middleton, they would have been in a tough position because they would have had too little cap space to find a player who can impact the game in the same way. Making sure Middleton remained in Milwaukee was imperative this offseason for general manager Jon Horst. The Athletic’s instant analysis: Why was signing him important? ![]() With the deal, Middleton returns to the second NBA team he’s played for since being drafted in 2012.Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season, upping his averages to 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists in the postseason.Middleton declined his player option, worth $40.4 million, in June.When coach Mike Budenholzer was asked directly on Thursday if Middleton would play in the games this weekend at home, he said “no.” When asked if Middleton might play later in the series, he said, “we’ll see.The Milwaukee Bucks and forward Khris Middleton have agreed to a three-year, $102 million deal, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Friday. “Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton continues to make steady progress on his left knee injury rehabilitation and additional updates will be provided as appropriate,” the statement read. The team released a statement on Thursday - two weeks after he sprained the MCL in his left knee - but provided no details or timeline. The Bucks will be without Middleton in Games 3 and 4 of their second-round series. Without that option in Game 2, the Bucks struggled to create good looks when Antetokounmpo wasn’t doing it. That’s where the Bucks would typically turn to the All-Star and Olympian Middleton to be a secondary shot creator, run him the pick-and-roll and let him create (he’s also a tough matchup off a switch, a 6'7" wing who can knock down the 3 or punish a smaller player on a post up. (It wasn’t that simple, but that’s the basic idea.) Boston’s defense kept Giannis Antetokounmpo in check with limited help - Grant Williams and Al Horford were spectacular - allowing the other defenders to stay home on shooters and take away good looks. The value of Khris Middleton was evident in the Bucks’ Game 2 loss to the Celtics.
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