

Jrue Holiday, who had another massive performance in Game 5, is the bellwether.

Giannis is putting up the gaudier numbers. In high- and very high-leverage possessions (defined here), the Bucks are plus-8.0 points per 100 possessions with Middleton. And he's been the Bucks' safety net in seemingly every important moment. Overall, Milwaukee is plus-5.9 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor and plus-0.5 when he's off. But there has long been a lingering concern that Middleton wasn't quite enough of a star to help Giannis win a title.ĭuring this playoff run, he's putting up 23.9 points and 5.1 assists. You would think two All-Star appearances and 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 threes, with shooting splits of 47.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three and 88.2 percent from the line, over the last three seasons would do that. Whether Milwaukee gets the championship (or Middleton gets a vote for that honor) or not, he's more than proven his star status in this postseason. But Middleton has done enough to get in the conversation. And the block he had on Deandre Ayton's alley-oop attempt late in Game 4 is an all-time Finals moment. His 32.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists are absurd. If the Bucks wind up winning the series, Giannis Antetokounmpo will almost certainly win the Finals MVP. Every other player in the Finals has combined for 13.

For the series, he's putting up 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 dimes and 3.0 threes.Īnd most impressively, he has 14 points in the clutch (defined by the league as the final five minutes of fourth quarters and overtimes that are within five points). In the end, Middleton had 29 points, seven boards and five assists.
Khris middleton stats game 6 free#
He also scored the final point of the game on a free throw with 9.8 seconds left. up 6 with 1:45 left.Īll six of those points were critical, as Phoenix whittled the lead all the way down to one. Middleton will turn 32 this offseason, and his long-term durability is far from a sure thing.Khris Middleton has 28 in the game and is 3-4 in the 4Q. He struggled to get healthy last season, averaging 15.1 points in 33 games for the Bucks. He didn't return, and Milwaukee lost a seven-game heartbreaker to the Boston Celtics. Middleton suffered an MCL injury in the first round of the 2022 postseason against the Chicago Bulls. However, a long-term commitment to Middleton isn't without its risks. With Antetokounmpo eligible for an extension this offseason, keeping Middleton was essential for Milwaukee as it hopes to convince arguably the best player in the world to stay with the Bucks.

Teammate and friend Giannis Antetokounmpo won Finals MVP for his work in that series, but publicly praised Middleton as his long-time co-star from the podium. He made three All-Star teams with the Bucks, but more importantly, he served as Milwaukee's late-game shot-creator during their run to the 2021 championship. Middleton came into the league as a wing with 3-and-D upside, but over time, he grew into one of the best all-around forwards in basketball. He was reportedly a part of the meetings that led to Adrian Griffin being hired as Milwaukee's head coach, and now, he will return to the team that helped him become a star. However, his return to the Bucks was never really in doubt. Middleton, who spent his rookie season with the Detroit Pistons but has been a Buck ever since, declined a $40 million player option earlier in the offseason in order to give himself the choice to explore free agency. Khris Middleton is re-signing with the Milwaukee Bucks for three years and $102 million, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
