Things Tyler Smith can learn from every Milwaukee Bucks starter
Khris Middleton - Improving his shot, basketball IQ, positioning
Tyler Smith could 100 percent be smart to take notes from the bag that Khris Middleton possesses. Starting off with the obvious, shooting, Khris Middleton is one of the NBA's most underrated shooters. This shouldn't be the case given the run he went on during the Milwaukee Bucks championship season and the fact that he's a three-time All-Star, but it's still true.
Khris Middleton is a career 38.8 percent 3-point shooter; we know Gary Trent Jr. can knock down the 3-pointers, but Khris Middleton can challenge the league's best, too. Having Tyler Smith in the gym getting shots up with these two could be a massive boost to his future shooting prowess.
Next is the art of the mid-range shot. Even in his state of returning from injuries he's dealt with over the last two seasons, Khris Middleton was still one of the best, if not the best, mid-range shooters in the NBA. He had the highest field goal percentage in the league from 16-to-24 feet for players who took more than 100 shots in that range last season. 58.3 percent on mid-range shots is elite.
Obviously, Tyler Smith could benefit from becoming a three-level scorer, something Bobby Portis has given the Bucks for the last few years, but should the Bucks decide a roster upgrade is needed at another position and Bobby Portis ends up traded, like in this trade suggestion, Tyler Smith could be needed sooner than later.
Moving from the obvious to not-so-obvious, Khris Middleton could teach Tyler Smith more than just shooting. Middleton could impart some of his basketball IQ to Tyler Smith, Khris Middleton has received compliments from coaches and teammates over the years for how well he thinks through the game and is almost like having another coach on the team that suits up.
The next thing Tyler Smith could learn from Khris Middleton is positioning, Khris Middleton is also one of the NBA's most underrated passers, something Milwaukee Bucks fans should know given the fact that we see him connecting with Giannis Antetokounmpo constantly in ways that seem like they shouldn't be possible or when it seems like even the opponent knows what's coming and still can't stop the connection.
What Tyler Smith could take away from this is getting into the right spots on the floor and keeping himself ready for the ball, because if he is open, Khris Middleton will find him.