Khris Middleton turned in his most impressive season as a pro in 2017-18. No question. The man who has been Milwaukee’s glue guy since he arrived proved he can thrive as a go-to scorer on a playoff team.
2016-17: 14.7 PPG (45% FG, 43% 3PT, 88% FT), 4.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 29 Games Played
2017-18: 20.1 PPG (46% FG, 36% 3PT, 88% FT), 5.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 82 Games Played
Middleton eclipsed 20 points per game this year, for the first time in his career. More notably, Khris played in all 82 games for the first time. Last season’s 29 game, injury shortened season left Bucks’ fans longing for more from their 2nd best player. In his sixth year in the league, Middleton lived up to what Milwaukee needs him to be.
Three point shooting is one of the only areas that Khris didn’t improve upon, statistically, from last year; but he reminded us why his nickname is “Khash” during the playoffs. In seven games against Boston, Middleton was 25-41 (61%) from behind the arc. Overall, he shot 59.8% from the field in the series. Including this ridiculous buzzer beater to force OT in Game 1.
Much was made in this match-up about Milwaukee supposedly having superior talent. Most people were looking solely at Giannis when proclaiming this. But Middleton thoroughly proved, through this series, that the Bucks have two star players. His true shooting percentage, which measures efficiency across 2-pt, 3pt, and FT shots, was 71.9 – tops of any player in this year’s playoffs.
And he should have been an All-Star this year. Amidst all the injury-replacement spots that became available in the Eastern Conference, Middleton’s name was noticeably absent from conversations. With these three replacement spots, Adam Silver named Goran Dragic, Kemba Walker, and Andre Drummond to the ASG in Los Angeles.
Middleton averaged more points per game than Dragic and Drummond, and played on a team that had more wins than any of the three. There’s no doubt in my mind this was a name-recognition snub. If you don’t know by now, make yourself familiar with the man they call “Money Middleton”. He’s a big reason why the Bucks are progressing into a threat in the East.
