The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021, but for years, they’ve been trying to get back to the NBA Finals.
With no luck, Milwaukee made major offseason moves last year that seemingly pushed the team even further from the goal. However, they could have the answer to their problems already on the roster.
The Damian (Lillard)-Giannis (Antetokounmpo) pick-and-roll is essential to Milwaukee’s success, but (Khris) Middleton’s presence is essential to the high-level success of that partnership," RealGM's Wes Goldberg wrote Monday.
“He’s the outlet when defenses trap Lillard. He’s the guy who can deliver the ball to Giannis over the top of the defense. The Bucks can be very good this season without a healthy Middleton, but they can’t win a championship.”
Middleton has been a major piece of the Bucks’ core since he emerged as a star in the 2015-16 season. Milwaukee has relied on him heavily since, but after injuries have hindered the 33-year-old the last couple of seasons, the team looked elsewhere for a star to pair alongside Antetokounmpo.
Nonetheless, in last year’s postseason run, Middleton averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 48.2% from field goal range and 39% from beyond the arc in the absence of the Greek Freak.
If the South Carolina native can perform even half as well as he did in the playoffs last year, he could be the piece to get Milwaukee back in the NBA Finals.
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