Bucks Zone

Khris Middleton has to be better for the Milwaukee Bucks this season

A report cites that Khris will need to step it up if the Bucks are to win the 2024 title.
Jonas Panerio|
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Milwaukee Bucks

With Damian Lillard already in town, the Milwaukee Bucks' sporadic troubles with offense—specifically in late-game situations in the postseason—may have finally found a solution. However, the line between good and great is extremely thin, and it takes a whole team effort to win the NBA championship. 

One player who will need to step up for the Bucks this upcoming season is none other than veteran wingman Khris Middleton.

Bounceback season

Middleton has been an integral part of the Bucks' success over recent years, averaging around 20 points per game over the previous five seasons and providing solid defense on the wing. However, injuries severely hindered the former Texas A&M star last season, limiting him to just 33 games in the regular season.

Even though Middleton appeared to have turned a corner in the NBA Playoffs, where he averaged 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in the Bucks' first-round loss to the Miami Heat, he again underwent knee surgery this offseason and has yet to return to the court. 

But with the new season rapidly approaching and all eyes on the Bucks as one of the top teams in the league, Middleton will need to bounce back and prove that he can be a consistent and reliable contributor for his team.

Can he stay on the floor?

Middleton's consistency and, most of all, availability will be key for Milwaukee. Even though the Bucks have enough offense to carry them on most nights, having Middleton on the floor provides another dimension to their game and takes some of the scoring load off their star duo.

"The veteran wing, in his 12th season, doesn’t have to leap anywhere he hasn’t been before or even quite that far. A three-time All-Star, he can get comfy as the Bucks’ No. 3 weapon if he boosts his scoring, shooting, and availability from their disappointing 2022-23 levels (15.1 points per game, 43.6 FG% in just 33 games). At age 32, he should get cleaner looks and better opportunities … if he can stay quick enough to defend and durable enough to be on the floor," Steve Aschburner wrote for NBA.com.

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO