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Milwaukee Bucks: Will Khris Middleton make the All-Star team again in 2019-20 season?

By Jordan Treske

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Khris Middleton #2 of Team Giannis addresses the media after the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Keane/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Khris Middleton #2 of Team Giannis addresses the media after the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Keane/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After breaking through and being named to his first All-Star game of his career last season, can veteran Milwaukee Bucks swingman Khris Middleton repeat the honor for the 2019-20 season?

After plenty of seasons of flying under the radar in the general NBA consciousness, Khris Middleton got his long overdue chance to shine under the spotlight last year.

Not only did the success the Bucks enjoyed throughout the regular season quickly vault to a new benchmark throughout his stay in Milwaukee to this point, but the 2018-19 season acted as a breakthrough for the 28-year-old in terms of finally seeing the role he’s carved out in the league be fully recognized by the NBA at large.

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That mostly came as a result of Middleton joining his superstar teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo, in Charlotte for last season’s NBA All-Star Game, marking the first All-Star appearance of his seven-year career.

Middleton’s All-Star bid was a hotly contested one throughout the Eastern Conference and even within the Bucks locker room, as an argument could have credibly been made for all of the Bucks’ starters to head to Charlotte and play in the NBA’s All-Star showcase.

But it was point guard Eric Bledsoe who had the best case of all, given the two-way impact he held at the point of attack and how his range of skills were fully unlocked under reigning NBA Coach of the Year, Mike Budenholzer. In the end, though, Middleton garnered the favor in the eyes of coaches around the Eastern Conference when it came to their round of All-Star voting.

For that to come in what was clearly a year full of adjustment for Middleton, and was a bit of regression as he fell below the career scoring mark he set the previous season, was notable as well. Now the question is whether the former Aggie can do it all next year by making his second straight All-Star Game?

As has been a running theme in the aftermath of the many dealings this offseason, the East has taken yet another hit with the reshuffling of stars moving places, many of them heading to the Western Conference.

To that point, five of the East’s 13 All-Stars last year switched teams, with two of them leaving the conference entirely in Kawhi Leonard, now of the Los Angeles Clippers and current Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell. That’s not to mention the injury absence of Victor Oladipo, whom Russell ended up replacing under NBA commissioner Adam Silver, and the retirement of soon-to-be Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade who, along with Dirk Nowitzki, were added as special additions by Silver as well.

While some of those unoccupied spots can easily be filled by past All-Stars who are returning back to the East such as Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, Middleton may have the opening yet again to retain his All-Star status, especially with the Bucks eager to follow up their league-leading 60-win season with a shot at next year’s title.

Of course, this is all provided that Middleton can play up to the standard that he’s delivered on throughout the majority of his career and there will be an added pressure surrounding the Charleston native after signing a five-year, $178 million contract on the opening day of free agency (the richest contract for a second-round pick in NBA history, by the way).

There’s certain benefits that come with entering such a spotlight as Middleton is now seeing as he and teammate Brook Lopez will represent Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in China, which kicked off earlier Saturday morning (central time, that is).

And with Antetokounmpo being the tide that lifts all boats when it comes to the Bucks’ core and pursuing their overall title aspirations, Middleton’s steadying presence has been a vital part in the team being steered toward that direction to where such a reality is possible.

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But sustaining it has always been key and Middleton’s occasional inconsistencies have still persisted, even as he climbed to new heights throughout last season. Time will tell whether he’ll be able to maintain his standing as one of the most versatile, complementary players in the NBA to fulfill the second All-Star bid of his career next year.

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