Khris Middleton’s Bucks story started with a twist of irony and ended with him standing near the top of the franchise record book.
The Bucks drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013, then made another move four days later that brought Middleton to Milwaukee in a sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons. Brandon Jennings went to Detroit in the deal, while Milwaukee also received Brandon Knight and center Viacheslav Kravtsov. At the time, Middleton was the guard who had flashed big scoring pop - including 55 points in his seventh career game - but the trade ended up delivering far more than a throw-in.
Nearly two years after being dealt from Milwaukee to the Washington Wizards, Middleton talked about the emotional hit of that move on Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s podcast, "Thanalysis Show."
“As far as what was going through my mind when it happened, of course a lot of emotions, man. Pissed, angry, happy, sad, all the above.”
Middleton also said the drive home gave him space to sort through everything. That trip, he explained, turned into a long look back at his Milwaukee years.
"On that drive, it was just a lot of reminiscing," Middleton said. "From day one since I got there, all the way up until losing against Indy in playoffs.
But it was a ride I think I needed. Some time by myself where you can sit back and reflect on things and, kind of get things out the way."
He had only spent one season in Detroit after being drafted there in 2012 with the No. 39 pick, and he knew Milwaukee would offer a different path. Middleton admitted he could see the opportunity coming before he ever put on a Bucks jersey.
“I knew it was going to be hard for me to find my way into the rotation (in Detroit),” Middleton said in an article by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. “Once I heard about the trade, I knew it would be a great opportunity for me to be on the court and show what I can do.”
That chance arrived immediately. Middleton earned his first career start in Milwaukee’s season opener against the New York Knicks, and six games later he had already topped his previous Pistons career-high of 14 points by scoring 19 against the Orlando Magic.
His first season in Milwaukee showed how quickly things were changing. Middleton doubled his scoring output, averaging 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 44% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range.
What followed was a 12-season run that made him one of the defining players in Bucks history. He hit huge shots, gave Antetokounmpo a reliable partner, and became the closer on a championship team.
Across those 12 seasons, Middleton averaged 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 46.1% from the field and 38.9% from deep. During Milwaukee’s championship run, he averaged 23.6 points and delivered a 40-point performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns.
By the end of his Bucks career, Middleton ranked No. 2 in games played, No. 3 in points and No. 1 in 3-point field goals.
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