Milwaukee Bucks: A perfect summer for Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday
By Dalton Sell
It would be difficult to have a better summer than what Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks are having right now.
First and foremost, the pair cemented themselves as NBA Champions just over two weeks ago with their 4-2 defeat over the Phoenix Suns. Despite the many challenges that arose throughout their hectic postseason run, they persevered and helped Milwaukee win their first title in 50 years. That in itself would have been a massive accomplishment, but the pair had the chance to check more off their summer bucket list after committing to play for Team USA.
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Shortly after winning the championship, it was back to business as Middleton and Holiday hopped on the plane to Tokyo to join the rest of the team for the Olympic competition.
It was yet another eventful run for the pair as the team went through early struggles. Yet, they ultimately persevered through it all once again en route to defeating France 87-82 to win the gold medal just 17 days after Middleton and Holiday won the title.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday cap off the perfect summer by taking home gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
For Middleton, adding an NBA title and Olympic gold medal to his résumé is just the start of his greatest achievements this summer, as he will have a newborn baby waiting for him when he gets home. As Team USA coach Gregg Popovich recently revealed while commending the forward for the sacrifices he made to be with the team, Middleton and his partner welcomed another child into the world just a day after Milwaukee won the title.
Gregg Popovich on USA's sacrifices at Tokyo Olympics: "Khris Middleton’s wife gave birth & he came the next day, after the Finals. Those were pretty big sacrifices. More for his wife than for him, now that I think about it. Take the credit away from him & give it to his wife."
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 5, 2021
As for Jrue, he heads home with an Olympic gold medal to his name, but he will not be the first Holiday to win a gold medal. His wife, Lauren Holiday, has two gold medals from 2008 and 2012 with the USA Women’s soccer team. Although will not get to claim bragging rights just yet, the guard will certainly be happy to make up some ground. Shoutout to the Holiday family for such a great achievement.
It goes without saying that Khris and Jrue should be feeling pretty good right now. Following their gold medal finish, they became the first pair of teammates to win gold and an NBA title in the same season since… Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 1992. Not bad company to be in at all. Following the win, Holiday praised Middleton for his efforts on this hectic ride they have been on over the past few months. Via Benyam Kidane of SportingNews:
"“He’s an NBA champion, he’s an Olympic gold medal winner, he’s my brother, you know. Us over these last few months it’s been crazy and we’ve done it together, so I wouldn’t want to share with anybody else.”"
What a moment. What a season. What a special bond between these two. This summer truly could not have been scripted any better.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently back home in Greece with both the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in tow. Knowing Brook Lopez and his well-documented love for Walt Disney World, he is likely celebrating down at the theme park as the first person in line at Splash Mountain. Now, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday will head back home to celebrate with a pair of recently earned gold medals.
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The pair will finally get some much-needed downtime ahead of the 2021-22 season, where they will look to defend their title as NBA champs. They have undeniably earned it.