Thanks to several All-Star seasons and a championship, Khris Middleton is known as the definitive second option to Giannis Antetokounmpo in this era. Through thick and thin, he was always there to give the Milwaukee Bucks a jolt behind the Greek Freak, but he's now gone, opening the door for someone else to be the next option. Currently, there is no clear-cut answer.
Bucks have no clear-cut second option behind Giannis
There are currently three players who feel like the best bet to be the second-leading scorer on this Bucks team next season, and they are Kevin Porter Jr., Myles Turner, and Kyle Kuzma.
Porter feels like Milwaukee's best bet to start at point guard. He's shown he can thrive in that role in the past, averaging 17.2 points and six assists per game during his three-year stint in Houston, where he only came off the bench three times. The guard, though he shot selection can cause headaches at times, is a proven shot-creator who could take scoring and facilitating pressure off of Giannis.
Turner will aim to be more of a defensive threat, but he's no slouch on the offensive side of things. In the two seasons prior to 2024-25, Turner averaged 17.5 points per game on an Indiana team that had a lot of scoring threats. Now, in Milwaukee, he may get even more touches, which could see him get back to or exceed those numbers.
Last up is Kyle Kuzma, who is certainly the biggest stretch of them all. One of Kuzma's biggest issues last season was that he oftentimes played like he was the leading scoring option, forcing tough shots. He played much better as a complementary piece, so the Milwaukee Bucks might try to use him in that role rather than a leading one. Yet, if he can average an efficient 20 points, that could help.
Could Bobby Portis have a tremendous Sixth Man of the Year campagin and be the second option as a reserve? Could Gary Trent Jr. thrive in a larger role with more touches and take the mantle himself? Does Cole Anthony have it in him to shock everyone and become a steady No. 2? There are so many options for Milwaukee.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo will command most of the spotlight, someone has to step up in the Khris Middleton role. Right now, it feels like it could be a by-committee approach, with a new player taking on the second-fiddle role every night. That's both exciting and terrifying. With a roster built upon depth and countless options, it could work if Doc Rivers puts the right pieces out there.
For the first time in a long time, there is no Khris Middleton for Milwaukee to fall back on offensively. It's simply time for someone else to snatch that role.
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