Khris Middleton is a three-time NBA All-Star entering into his 11th NBA season, his 10th with the Milwaukee Bucks. Middleton in his 10 years with Milwaukee has done some great things, made some great moments, some great memories and ultimately, helped deliver the first Milwaukee Bucks Championship in 50 years with his aid to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Heading into the 2022-23 season in which Middleton will be 31 and coming off an off-season wrist surgery, let’s take a look at some admittedly quite bold predictions for what this season could have in store for Khris Middleton.
Milwaukee Bucks: Bold predictions for Khris Middleton: 50/40/90
Khris Middleton has flirted with a 50 percent field goal shooting, 40 percent 3-point shooting, 90 percent free throw shooting nearly every season in his career. Middleton missed out by 0.3 percent in the 2019-2020 season when he shot 49.7/41.5/91.6 percent on the three splits.
In the 2021-22 season, Khris Middleton had a slightly down year, although still a decent season that resulted in his third All-Star appearance, shooting 44.3/37.3/89.0. There is no doubt in my mind that Khris Middleton is capable of putting together a 50/40/90 season, it just comes down to the consistency in executing it for Middleton.
The addition of Joe Ingles as a secondary playmaker may aid Middleton by taking some pressure off of him as a ball handler, as will Jrue Holiday playing a fully healthy season. If Middleton can play with consistency and be able to play off the ball more, he could be in for a bounce back season.
Khris Middleton did a lot of his own shot creating in 2021-22, as evidenced by 56.2 of his made field goals being unassisted. Only Jrue Holiday (73.8 percent) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (56.9 percent) had a higher percentage of their shots unassisted. The Milwaukee Bucks do move the ball well when they are at their best but Middleton being the player he is still commands a lot of attention. However, if the Bucks put together a lineup that surrounds Giannis and Middleton with a lot of shooting, like Bobby Portis, Joe Ingles and Pat Connaughton, the opponent will have to choose whether to try stopping the Bucks’ All-Stars 1-on-1 or leave sharpshooters open for open looks at the 3-point line. If a lineup could open up more clean looks at the basket for Middleton it would go a long way in assisting Middleton to a 50/40/90 season.
One area that would go a long way to creating a 50/40/90 season would be some increased efficiency on pull-up jump shots, last season Middleton made 41.3 percent of his pull-up jumpers and 36.1 percent of his pull-up 3-point attempts. Another area of potential improvement is his catch and shoot numbers, Middleton made 38.8 percent of his catch and shoot attempts, both from the field and the 3-point line. Middleton did do well driving to the basket and scoring in the paint. So some improved decision making when contested from distance and working closer to the basket if the shot clock allows may also help Middleton reach the bold prediction of his first career 50/40/90 season.
Milwaukee Bucks: Bold predictions for Khris Middleton: Make an All-NBA team
Khris Middleton has been right on the cusp of making an All-NBA team for several years, receiving votes in each of the past three years for 3rd Team All-NBA. During 2021-22 he would have had to outshine LeBron James and Pascal Siakam to earn 3rd team honors. Looking at Middleton compared to Siakam last season, the argument could be made that Middleton deserved at least a closer look for the 3rd team All-NBA selection over Siakam as there season averages were quite close. The per 36 minute numbers even favor Middleton in scoring and assists. Siakam however did play nearly 38 minutes per game and was the best player for the Toronto Raptors and made the All-NBA team.
That all being said, if my first bold prediction for Khris Middleton comes to pass, and the Milwaukee Bucks run another season near the top of the Eastern Conference, I don’t see any way you could keep Khris Middleton off of an All-NBA team. The fact that Middleton is also an underrated defender could also factor in, Siakam is known partially for his defense and in the 2021-22 season had a defensive rating just 2 points lower than Middleton did. So Khris Middleton is right on the edge of earning that 3rd Team All-NBA selection.
Milwaukee Bucks: Bold predictions for Khris Middleton: Finals MVP
This is admittedly the boldest prediction I may ever make, but one that is still possible, even if remotely. There is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that Giannis Antetokounmpo was the Finals MVP in the 2021 NBA Finals, scoring 50 points in the elimination game all but sealed that award for him. However, Khris Middleton played two very good games, three monster games and one quite bad game in that Finals series.
Games 1 and 5 Khris Middleton scored 29 points, in Game 1 Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to just 11 field goal attempts, still managing 20 points however. That said Middleton may have been the best player on the court for the Bucks in game 1. Game 2 is the one that hurts Middleton’s finals averages and likely one he would like to forget. Game 3 was a perfect storm for the Bucks, Giannis had 41, Jrue Holiday had a bounce back game and Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis scored 11 points each, even still Middleton scored 18 points and had seven rebounds and six assists.
Game 4 is the game that makes me believe Middleton is capable of fulfilling this bold prediction and winning a Finals MVP. Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals Khris Middleton dropped 40 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. The Milwaukee Bucks won the game by six points thanks to Middleton scoring 10 points in the last 2:07 of the fourth quarter.
Game 5 was another great game from Middleton, 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Game 5 was just a four point victory for the Milwaukee Bucks and the entire big three came to play, Giannis scored 32 points and Jrue scored 27 to go with 13 assists, the play of this game was the steal by Jrue Holiday on Devin Booker followed by an and-one lob to Giannis in the closing seconds.
Game 6 was Giannis being Giannis, he took matters into his own hands and Middleton played a somewhat quiet but solid game, scoring 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
So what would it take for Middleton to up his averages of 24.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists and win a Finals MVP? Well it would likely take a concerted effort by the Milwaukee Bucks’ finals opponent should the Bucks get that far to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo, or at least an effort to contain him and for Khris Middleton to play like he did in games 1, 4 and 5 during the 2021 Finals. Also if Khris Middleton were able to up his averages and then be the Milwaukee Bucks best player in the potential title sealing victory and have a career moment, like Giannis did in game 6, there absolutely exists a world where Khris Middleton wins a Finals MVP.
These predictions are admittedly bold, but ones that I’m sure Milwaukee Bucks fans would be happy to see come to fruition.