Boston, MA - December 6: Milwaukee Bucks SF Khris Middleton shoots over Boston Celtics C Al Horford ... \[+\] in the first quarter. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks have a glaring shortage of ball-handlers and playmakers on the roster. That might sound strange for a team led by Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo—two of the league's most dynamic shot creators—but it’s the reality. This is where Khris Middleton’s return becomes so crucial.
Beyond Lillard and Antetokounmpo, head coach Doc Rivers has been scrambling, experimenting with makeshift options to patch together playmaking. The results have been predictably uneven.
Take Delon Wright, for example. Wright was never known as a pure backup point guard, but his inability to generate offense for others has been alarming in his first 20-plus games with Milwaukee.
Rivers also gave Ryan Rollins a shot before Rollins’ injury; since his return to health, Rollins hasn’t sniffed the rotation. AJ Green—a shooter by trade—even saw minutes as an ersatz "point guard."
Now relegated to the bench, Pat Connaughton is another playmaking option Rivers tried to turn to. He has the highest usage percentage of his career this season and was filling the role Middleton often played as a ball-handling pick-and-roll partner with Antetokounmpo. As you can imagine, the results were mid as Connaughton was a square peg cast into a round hole.
All of this underscores just how desperately Milwaukee needed Middleton back. Even at less than 100 percent, Middleton’s shot creation for others has already been a lifeline for this team.
It’s not all roses. After an eight-month layoff, Middleton is understandably rusty. His shot has been ice-cold, falling at just a 25 percent clip, and his 7.3 points per game are the lowest since his rookie year.
But his playmaking has been a different story.
Middleton is averaging 6.3 assists in only 21 minutes per game—surpassing his career high of 5.4, which took him 32 minutes a night to achieve.
It’s a promising sign, and one that’s especially evident in his chemistry with Antetokounmpo. The duo’s synergy is as timeless as peanut butter and jelly. Despite their time apart, it’s as if nothing has changed. Of Middleton’s 19 assists this season, 13 have gone to Antetokounmpo.
The two see the game in the same way. After Middleton gets the ball back from Brook Lopez, he casually crosses over to the top of the key, as Lopez’s man steps up to take away the pull-up three.
Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo has been signaling to Middleton the entire time. He hits his defender with a swim move and jets to the basket. Waiting for him to make the cut, Middleton lofts the ball toward the rim in a perfectly-timed manner, as Antetokoumpo catches the pass uncontested and throws it down for two.
This is the kind of chemistry Lillard has been searching for since arriving in Milwaukee last season. While Lillard’s connection with Antetokounmpo has grown significantly, the Middleton-Antetokounmpo partnership remains the gold standard.
As Middleton brings the ball up the right wing, Antetokounmpo runs into the picture to get in the way of Middleton’s defender. Because of his three-point prowess, Moritz Wagner has to stay closer to the arc than he would like. This allows Antetokounmpo to quickly slip the screen. The best part is Middleton’s gorgeous bounce pass that sets up his long-time teammate for an easy two points.
The two are completely in sync. Whether in the halfcourt, transition, or anywhere in between, the Middleton-Antetokounmpo chemistry has been a joy to watch.
Milwaukee is outscoring opponents by a staggering 25.6 points per 100 possessions when the two share the floor. Sure, you can call it a small sample size, and you’d be right. But this duo has consistently outperformed opponents for years, with net ratings of +12.2, +5.8, +9.3, and +9.7 points per 100 possessions over the last four seasons, respectively. The trend is real.
Middleton’s playmaking will continue to help his entire team. He’s another player with immense gravity that forces defenses to pay attention to him when he has the rock.
Another bright spot has been his ball security. Turnovers have long been a point of criticism—particularly the agonizing, momentum-killing kind—but since his return, he’s averaged just one turnover per game over three outings. It’s a small sample, but it’s a promising one.
It’s still early, but Middleton’s presence has already been a breath of fresh air for Milwaukee. His shooting touch isn’t there yet, but he looks sharp, fluid, and is processing the game at an elite level.
His playmaking has not only lifted the Bucks’ offense but has also made life easier for everyone around him.
As Milwaukee works to reestablish themselves as a bona fide Finals contender, Middleton’s impact will be undeniable. He might just be the missing piece to push this team over the edge.