Having a veteran wingman with championship experience as your third option can be considered a luxury in the NBA. For Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, that's exactly what he has in Khris Middleton.
Middleton has been integral to the Milwaukee Bucks over the last decade, helping them win the NBA title in 2021. He recently returned to the roster after being sidelined for over a month with an ankle sprain. Right away, Rivers noticed the impact that Middleton had on the team.
Veteran savvy
Middleton is playing in his 12th NBA season, which means he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Bucks. Rivers, who has been coaching in the league for over two decades, understands the value of having a veteran player like Khris on his team; someone who can run the team on the floor much like how a coach might.
“It’s nice, I’m telling you,” Rivers said.
“When you’re a coach, and you have a guy that can run down and call one of your sets, that you probably were going to call, and get guys organized, man, it’s a luxury.”
Although Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play on Sunday afternoon, Milwaukee still routed the Phoenix Suns 140-129. Middleton contributed considerably to the Bucks' victory, scoring 22 points and dishing out seven assists.
Pay attention to the gameplan
Middleton has never been the most athletic player but what he lacks in that department, he more than makes up for with his high basketball IQ and ability to read defenses. This was on full display during the game against the Suns, as he made smart passes and took advantage of mismatches on the court.
When asked about Doc’s comments regarding his hoops IQ, Middleton commented, “I pay attention to a lot of what the coaches say, what they like, and what they want us to run. So I try to be a coach on the floor at times, you know, putting guys at certain spots, running certain things, just to get a different flow.”
“You know, I think that's something that, you know, I bring to the table with this team. So it was cool to hear him say that.”
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