CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Fifteen years in the NBA is a monumental milestone for anyone. But for a guy drafted 39th overall back in 2012, it is a testament to longevity, work ethic, and an unwavering belief in himself.
Charleston’s own Khris Middleton was back home in the Lowcountry this week, returning to the court at Porter-Gaud School where his basketball journey first took flight. Even with the whirlwind of NBA offseasons, team trades, and multi-city moves, Middleton never misses a chance to host his annual summer youth camp on his old home floor.
It provided a moment to reflect on a career that has defied second-round expectations.
Before becoming a three-time NBA All-Star (2019, 2020, 2022), an Olympic Gold Medalist in Tokyo, and an NBA Champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Middleton was leading the Porter-Gaud Cyclones to state championship appearances under head coach John Pearson. After a stellar collegiate career at Texas A&M, he entered the 2012 NBA Draft. Selected in the second round by Detroit, Middleton quickly carved out a reputation as one of the most reliable two-way wings in professional basketball.
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Over his decade-plus in Milwaukee, he cemented himself in franchise history, ranking third all-time in scoring for the Bucks and holding the franchise record for career three-pointers. He scored over 12,000 points in Milwaukee, highlighted by a playoff run in 2021 where he averaged 23.6 points per game to bring a Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Wisconsin.
Now entering his 15th professional season, Middleton finds himself in a familiar place with a new role—providing veteran leadership for a reshaped Washington Wizards squad.
The past year has brought plenty of roster shuffling, including a brief detour through Dallas right as his family was settling into the nation's capital. But as Middleton sees it, that’s just the nature of the business.
"This was my face too when I found out," Middleton said, laughing as he recalled finding out about the trade just minutes before it went public. "We all found out a couple minutes before it went live."
Back in Washington, Middleton is eager to guide an intriguing roster brimming with young talent and dynamic additions.
"Definitely a talented group," Middleton said of the Wizards. "Young guys have made a huge jump development-wise since they’ve been drafted. Year three for a lot of them... throw in the No. 1 pick, AJ, also—really excited to see what this team can do."
While common consensus points to Middleton as a steadying locker room presence for a rebuilding team, the 34-year-old forward makes it clear he isn’t ready to transition to the sidelines just yet.
"The more years you play, the more experience you have. That comes naturally," Middleton said. "I just want to be myself... It's about guiding young guys, but being a basketball player myself. I’m still a basketball player, I’m not a coach yet. So, hopefully, I’ll be playing and playing meaningful minutes and finding ways to impact the game still."
Looking back on a career spanning more than 800 regular-season games and over 13,000 points, Middleton isn't taking a single moment for granted.
"It’s going by fast. Time is coming to an end, but each year I’ve been enjoying it. That is what it's about," Middleton reflected. "To be heading to my 15th year, unbelievable—something I’ve been working for a really long time and still working towards."
No matter where the game takes him next, the Lowcountry will always be home base. And for the local kids running drills under his watch at Porter-Gaud, seeing a local high school legend turned NBA Champion in their gym is all the proof they need that big dreams start right here in Charleston.
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Thanks to a $24 billion television deal that kicks in before the 2016-17 season, already skyrocketing salaries will soon reach a new stratosphere. Players like Milwaukee's Khris Middleton have already benefited. AP PHOTO