Middleton Returns to Milwaukee: Excitement, Ovation, and Duel with Giannis

Middleton Returns to Milwaukee: An Emotional and Bittersweet Night

Since the NBA regular season schedule was released in August, Khris Middleton has been looking forward to Wednesday night’s opening game. After 12 seasons and 735 games with the Bucks, including winning the NBA championship in 2021, Middleton played his first away game in Milwaukee, this time as a member of the Wizards, in a 133-120 loss. The Fiserv Forum, with a full house, paid tribute to Middleton with several standing ovations. The first came when his name was announced in the pre-game introductions. Another came when a tribute video was shown on the screen during a timeout in the first quarter. The last came when Middleton left the game after scoring 23 points, the most on his team.

“Receiving that kind of recognition, of appreciation from the city, from the organization, meant a lot to me,” Middleton said.

Khris Middleton

Milwaukee traded Middleton to the Wizards before the trade deadline in February, as part of a deal that brought Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee. Upon his return, Middleton was greeted by the team mascot and band as he entered the stadium before the game, and several team staff members stopped to greet him and take photos. The tribute video during the game lasted more than a minute.

Khris Middleton returns to Milwaukee tonight. ❤️

He spent 12 seasons with the Bucks and won a championship with the team in 2021. pic.twitter.com/d5m02xYh8f

— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2023

What was an emotional night for Middleton was also described as “strange” by his long-time teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both faced each other several times during the game, a reminder of the 12 years they spent doing it in training. “Even when we became All-Stars and champions, during the summer, we played our one-on-one duels,” Middleton said. “We talk a lot. Everything is competitive. We both want to win, we both want the best for each other.” In the second quarter, Middleton outmaneuvered Antetokounmpo, positioning himself under the basket to draw an offensive foul.

“I saw his eyes light up when he saw me under the hoop,” Middleton said with a smile. “So I knew he was either going to foul me, or get out of the way. … I’ve taken worse hits than that. That was light.”

Khris Middleton

Before the February trade, Antetokounmpo had never played an NBA game without Middleton as a teammate. “Obviously, he had a great game, he can still play,” said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists in 27 minutes. “He’s still a great threat when he’s on the court. He always plays the right way. He makes good decisions, improves his teammates on defense. He will always be in the right position and, sometimes, he will put his body on the line, commit an offensive foul. He always plays smart.”

Although it was Middleton’s first time as a visitor in Milwaukee since the trade, Antetokounmpo noted that this was their third meeting, including a matchup in D.C. a few weeks after the agreement and the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“I won,” said Antetokounmpo. “Two to one, I’m winning.”

Although the Bucks won on Wednesday, they lost point guard Kevin Porter Jr. in the first quarter due to a sprained left ankle after stepping on the foot of teammate Bobby Portis. Porter had 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting before the injury.

It is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday. “It didn’t look good,” said Bucks coach Doc Rivers. “I’ll just say that. You hope for the best, but looking at it, it was a pretty serious sprain.”