In the recent victory against the Rockets, Khris Middleton scored 20 points. This meeting, his first with 20 units of the season, perfectly symbolizes his new role in the Milwaukee attack.
The winger is as always behind Giannis Antetokounmpo in the hierarchy. But also behind Damian Lillard now. “If we want to say it’s a third option, it’s a superb third option to have”judges Ime Udoka, the coach of the Rockets.
A balance to find
He certainly has fewer balls and fewer shots, but when the defenses are concentrated on the Greek and the former Portlander, he has space to strike. “It’s part of my role now. I have to know when to be aggressive, when to spin”he summarizes for ESPN.
Isn't this little demotion difficult for him? He, a three-time All-Star and lieutenant of Giannis Antetokounmpo for several seasons, who was then averaging 20 points per game.
“I often played as a shooter, without a ball, in high school or university,” he remembers. “It’s a balance. Sometimes I'll get the ball, sometimes I won't and that's fine. It's easy. Regardless of the configuration, we have unselfish players who can close the match with Giannis, Dame and me. »
From this match against Houston, we especially remembered Giannis' rebound record or Damian Lillard's 39 points. Minus the 14 points in the last quarter of the 2021 champion. That's also being the third option.
“Dame has the ball, me too, and maybe Khris has it a little less,” highlights the double MVP and MVP of the 2021 Finals. “But, deep down, he’s a professional. He knows what it takes to win. He knows his role. We will need him to score in important moments. He knows it, he has to stay ready for it. Since the start of the season, he has played his role to perfection, we cannot ask for more of him. »
“When Khris Middleton is on the field, we are a better team”
Especially since he is gaining momentum in terms of his playing time, after his knee surgery during the offseason. After 16 minutes per match in October, he reached 21 in November and flirted with 30 minutes in December.
“There were matches where he was good and it was difficult for us because we had to take him out when the matches were close,” explains Adrian Griffin. “Now his minutes are more consistent and he feels better the day after a match. It's huge for us because, I've always said, when Khris Middleton is on the field, we're a better team. »
Even if its role is therefore limited. “There will be times where he will have to do a little bit of everything, others where he will be in catch-and-shoot, others where he will have to dribble, or take control in the fourth quarter. With what he has done in his career, he is capable of doing all that. And he never forces”concludes Giannis Antetokounmpo.
| Khris Middleton | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | DET | 27 | 18 | 44.0 | 31.1 | 84.4 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 6.1 |
| 2013-14 | MIL | 82 | 30 | 44.0 | 41.4 | 86.1 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 12.1 |
| 2014-15 | MIL | 79 | 30 | 46.7 | 40.7 | 85.9 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 13.4 |
| 2015-16 | MIL | 79 | 36 | 44.4 | 39.6 | 88.8 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 18.2 |
| 2016-17 | MIL | 29 | 31 | 45.0 | 43.3 | 88.0 | 0.4 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 14.7 |
| 2017-18 | MIL | 82 | 36 | 46.6 | 35.9 | 88.4 | 0.6 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 20.2 |
| 2018-19 | MIL | 77 | 31 | 44.1 | 37.8 | 83.7 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 18.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIL | 62 | 30 | 49.7 | 41.5 | 91.6 | 0.7 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 20.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 68 | 33 | 47.6 | 41.4 | 89.8 | 0.8 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 20.4 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 66 | 32 | 44.3 | 37.3 | 89.0 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 20.1 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 33 | 24 | 43.6 | 31.5 | 90.2 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 15.1 |
| 2023-24 | MIL | 22 | 23 | 47.2 | 36.0 | 81.8 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 13.1 |
| Total | 706 | 31 | 45.8 | 38.7 | 88.0 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 16.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
