Khris Middleton shows his love for Bucks fans vs. Milwaukee: “I think this is every player’s dream”
milwaukee — Khris Middleton has walked the Fiserv Forum tunnels hundreds of times. But until he arrived at the Washington Wizards game on a gray and windy Wednesday morning, hours before the team’s 133-120 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the season opener, he had never done so before as a competitor.
Middleton, who admitted it felt “weird” to wake up in a hotel in Milwaukee, said he was “reminiscing” as he walked the familiar path to the courthouse he once called home.
“I’ve done great things here, so it was definitely a moment I had to reflect on a little bit when I got here,” Middleton said. “Think about the good times, the bad times, the ups and downs, all of it.”
Middleton was selected in the second round by the Detroit Pistons in 2012, and was traded to the Bucks before his sophomore season. At the time, he was considered a throw-in in swapping Brandon Knight for Brandon Jennings. Over the course of his 11 seasons in Milwaukee, he became so much more. When the Bucks dealt him to the Wizards before the deadline last season, he left as a franchise icon and one of the most beloved athletes in Milwaukee history.
“This place will always be special to me,” Middleton said. “I’ve said it many times: This organization has helped me achieve many of the dreams and goals I set.”
When Middleton arrived in Milwaukee, the Bucks had not won a playoff game since 2001, and they were stuck in a treadmill of mediocrity. He, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, helped turn the franchise into a perennial contender, and in 2021, the duo led the Bucks to their first title since 1971. Middleton has made three All-Star appearances with the Bucks and remains second in games played (735), third in points (12,586), seventh in rebounds (3,598), third in assists (2,990), and fifth in assists (2,990), in steals (870) and first in 3-pointers made (1,382) on the all-time franchise leaderboard.
“First of all, I think the most important thing is that he should have the warmest welcome ever,” Antetokounmpo said earlier this week. “When he comes here and sees the tribute video, he must cry before this game. I can’t explain how much Khris means to this team. I can’t explain how much Khris means to me.”
The Bucks’ tribute to Middleton began Wednesday before the game when Banjo and the team’s entertainment crew welcomed him with “For The Love of Money,” written by the O’Jays, which blared over the speakers whenever he scored.
“The reception with this kind of welcome before the match was something special,” said Middleton, who admitted that he was surprised.
There were loud cheers when Middleton was inserted into the starting lineup, and even louder applause at the first timeout, when a tribute video appeared on the jumbotron. And for just over a minute, Middleton’s best moments in a Bucks jersey flashed across the screen. As the montage ended, the camera panned to Middleton, who stood and waved to the crowd.
“I wanted to share my love too,” Middleton said. “…Getting a standing ovation on the road doesn’t happen very often, so I wanted to make sure they knew I acknowledged them. Even though I don’t talk a lot or do a lot, it really means a lot. I think that’s every player’s dream to get a standing ovation, no matter where they are.”
Over the course of the night, Middleton showed that he can still perform at a high level. He scored 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, had six rebounds and three assists. He even took over for Antetokounmpo late in the second quarter. After the game, the former teammates were able to reunite with friends and shared a moment at midfield.
In the shootout, Middleton said his goals that night were to see more Middleton jerseys in the crowd wearing Antetokounmpo and not get too emotional. He accomplished the latter — “Thanks I didn’t cry,” he said after the game — but there was nothing he could do about the former. However, there were a lot of No. 22 players in the crowd, which he described as “very special.”
“Words can’t really describe this part,” Middleton said. “That people would really spend their money on buying my shirt and wearing it to school, work, eating out everywhere. I think that’s something that my family definitely appreciates and loves, and I wish my dad was here and saw this tonight because I know he would have loved it too.”
Middleton may not have cried, but he said his family did, and they weren’t the only ones inside the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday with tears in their eyes. This is what he means to the organization, the fan base and to Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo is the better player and the bigger star, but the past decade of Bucks basketball belongs just as much to Middleton.
“I think that’s what the legacy of winning is all about,” Middleton said. “We built this organization from a team that was struggling to become a contender and ultimately to a champion, and that thing that should always stick here in this building or wherever else they move to is that we won a championship for the city.”
When Middleton first emerged from the tunnel and onto the field Wednesday morning, he said the first thing he went to look at was the championship banner hanging high in the rafters. Years from now, when his career is over, he should be able to come back and see his number 22 next to him.
“It’s not up to me. It’s up to the people who make that decision,” Middleton said. “But yeah, I hope to see that number out there one day. Not anytime soon, but that would be cool.”
For now, he would have to content himself with worshiping an entire city.
“I try not to get caught up in the moment, but the standing ovation is something special, something I really didn’t expect much.” Middleton said. “To get that kind of love and appreciation from the fans, man, that’s amazing. I think we all picture ourselves as kids waving to 20,000 people, and I finally got that moment today.”