While a lot of the eye for the Milwaukee Bucks has (rightfully) been on the brand new dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, it is simple to neglect simply how proficient Khris Middleton is. Middleton has been tasked with taking up a good bigger third-option function with two dominant offensive gamers now operating the present in Milwaukee. No one appears to understand how he is approached it greater than his longtime teammate in Antetokounmpo.
“Dame has the ball, I have the ball and maybe [Middleton] has the ball a little bit less,” Antetokounmpo stated Sunday night time to ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “But on the finish of the day, he is an expert. He is aware of what it takes to win. He is aware of his function. There’s going to be instances down the stretch the place he has to attain the ball for us. And he is aware of that. He stays prepared for that.
“Throughout this whole season, he’s been playing his role perfectly. You could not ask for more. The minutes that he’s been given, and those are going up slowly, slowly, slowly. Maybe one day he can play back-to-backs. But right now I think Khris is doing an unbelievable job, being mature, being OK with his role and playing the game the right way.”
Antetokounmpo is spot-on together with his evaluation of the best way Middleton has dealt with the adjustment, particularly when factoring in that his minutes, scoring common and makes an attempt per sport are all down from final season and have taken a major dip from the yr prior. Middleton averages 13.1 factors on 10.6 makes an attempt whereas logging his fewest minutes per sport since he was a rookie with the Detroit Pistons (23.3).
But what jumps out here’s what the drastic change offensively has sparked within the 32-year-old. He’s at present pulling down photographs at his highest fee because the 2020-21 season, making 47.1% from the sector. Even in fewer minutes, he has nonetheless averaged 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per sport.
Middleton’s function might look completely different, however when his quantity is named, he is proving at a constant fee that he is able to make the precise play. And in flip, it is helped lead the Bucks to a 21-7 mark, putting them only a half sport behind the Boston Celtics for the highest spot within the Eastern Conference heading into the weekend earlier than Christmas.
Discussion about this post