Former Milwaukee Bucks 3x All-Star Khris Middleton Makes Decision on 2025-26 NBA Season

There was a time, not too long ago, that Middleton was arguably the best second scoring option in the NBA. Between 2017 and 2022, he made three All-Star teams and averaged over 20 points per game four times.

Middleton also played a massive role in Milwaukee making it to, and winning, the 2021 NBA Finals. When Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a hyperextended knee in the Eastern Conference Finals, it was Middleton who shouldered the load and led the Bucks to a series victory.

In Game Three, before Giannis got hurt, he had 38 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. In Game Five, with the series tied 2-2 and the Greek Freak sidelined, he poured in 26 points to go with 13 rebounds and eight assists. And then, in Game Six, he sent the Bucks to the Finals with a 32 point, four rebound, and seven assist performance.

While Giannis deservedly won the Finals MVP Award and was, by far, the best player in the series, it is important that fans not forget that, in Game Four, with Milwaukee down 2-1 in the series, Middleton had 40 points, six rebounds, and four assists to tie it two games apiece.

Unfortunately, in the next year’s NBA Playoffs, Middleton suffered a devastating knee injury that derailed, well, his career. He missed most of the 2022-23 season, played just 55 games in 2023-24, and just 37 games last year.

Former Milwaukee Bucks Star Khris Middleton Picked Up His Option with the Washington Wizards

Aside from the injuries that kept him off the floor, the Bucks decided to trade Middleton because of his massive contract. On Monday, it was reported that he had picked up his $33 million player option to stay with Washington for the 2025-26 NBA season:

Of course, this comes as no surprise as Middleton was not going to get that kind of money on the open market. If he were to have declined his option, he probably would not have gotten much more than the league minimum from any other team.

Indeed, this is, perhaps, the last big payday that the three-time All-Star will receive in his career. It is the final year of his contract and, unless he has a big year and stays healthy, will hit free agency with a low price tag after the upcoming season.

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