Milwaukee Bucks: Exploring Khris Middleton’s playmaking evolution
It may be early in this 2020-21 season, but Khris Middleton is in the midst of his greatest act yet for the Milwaukee Bucks.
As the Bucks stand at 10-6 on the season following their 14-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks, it’s been Middleton who is having an immense imprint on the success the Bucks have had to this point in their run.
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By wearing as many hats as he does when it comes to leading the Bucks’ offense, most notably during crunch time, Middleton has been dependable as a hub of productivity as he’s averaging career-highs in multiple categories.
While Middleton has never been better as a scorer from all three levels of the floor, so too has he never been better as a playmaker, given his career-best 5.8 assists per game.
That so happens to also lead this Bucks team that has been sharing the ball very frequently as they are collectively averaging 26.3 assists per game, good for eighth in the NBA as of this writing.
Khris Middleton has been the Milwaukee Bucks’ best playmaker this season.
While Middleton’s usage is slightly down from year at 24.6 percent, which falls in line with the Bucks bringing in star veteran guard Jrue Holiday and shaking up their starting five, he’s never been more in control and poised with the ball in his hands. Both Middleton’s career-high 25.5 assist percentage and 2.49 assist-to-turnover ratio certainly points to the 29-year-old highlights his clear-eyed decision making.
It’s been in pick-and-roll situations where Middleton’s smooth operating has been best displayed on the court. Per NBA.com/stats, Middleton is averaging 1.09 points per possession in such spots, which ranks in the 85th percentile of players around the league.
Middleton’s vision and ability to hit Bucks teammates rolling or cutting to the rim has been impressive to see and the same goes for completing near-full court passes to the likes of Antetokounmpo in transition. According to pbpstats.com, Middleton has generated 49 assists at the rim for his teammates, which ranks ninth of all players in the league.
Whatever which way you look at it, the ninth-year forward has never been more measured and dependable by taking on as many responsibilities as he’s done at this stage in this season. This, in turn, is one of the many elements that is changing the fabric of this Bucks team, all of which is coming together with the many changes, both personnel and tactically, they have made and are experimenting with from what we’ve seen so far.
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Just as was the case last year, Middleton’s continued ascendance will impact what the Bucks are looking to achieve this season. The fact that he’s becoming more comfortable shepherding the Bucks’ offense at both a high volume and in critical spots is certainly encouraging as the Bucks look to avenge their playoff heartbreak from the last two seasons.