Bucks’ Doc Rivers on Khris Middleton’s return: ‘He’s a Buck for life’
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers wants to ensure a warm welcome for Khris Middleton after all he did for the team and community.
Khris Middleton will go down as quite possibly the third-best player in Milwaukee Bucks history — behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — a three-time All-Star with a ring and 11½ seasons in a Bucks uniform. Plus, an Olympic gold medal for good measure.
Middleton was traded to Washington last season in a deal that landed Kyle Kuzma, and now he’ll be kicking off the 2025-26 season in Milwaukee as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Middleton averaged 10.7 points per game in 22 minutes over 14 games for the Wizards after the trade earlier this calendar year. In his first game, the Wizards hosted the Bucks, and Middleton scored 12 points with five rebounds.
Middleton’s biggest moments in Milwaukee often were saved for the biggest stage, including, of course, during the run to the 2021 NBA championship.
These are the unforgettable memories he left behind with the Milwaukee Bucks:
Khris Middleton’s portfolio of amazing buzzer-beaters
May 22, 2021, Game 1 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Miami
You remember how the playoff run ended — with an NBA championship. It also began with a bang, when Middleton hit a game-winning basket with 0.5 seconds left to trigger the first of four straight wins against Miami in the opening round. Middleton finished with 27 points, six assists and six rebounds, capped by the 19-footer that gave Milwaukee a 109-107 victory.
April 15, 2018, Game 1 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Boston
Before the Bucks found their footing as a bona fide title contender, Middleton scored 31 points with six assists and eight rebounds to help them give Boston a serious run for its money in the first round of the 2018 playoffs. At the end of regulation in the opener, he took an inbound with 0.5 seconds left and tossed in a deep three-pointer to force overtime. Announcer Gus Johnson lost his mind. The Bucks lost, but Middleton balled out.
Middleton scored 32 points in Game 7 of that series, including 17 of Milwaukee’s final 19 points, but it wasn’t meant to be in a 112-96 loss. He also led the team with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Game 3. His reputation as a Celtics killer had been born.
April 26, 2024, Game 3 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Indiana
In another game that didn’t work out, Middleton’s heave with 1.4 seconds on the clock tied the game against Indiana in the 2024 playoffs, part of a 42-point performance with Antetokounmpo out with injury. Middleton scored 42 points with 10 rebounds and five assists, but the Bucks lost in overtime, 121-118.
Dec. 15, 2014, vs. Phoenix
It didn’t have the stakes of the playoff buzzer-beaters but it was just as fun. His make off the backboard gave the Bucks a true buzzer-beating win, a 96-94 victory.
March 14, 2015, vs. Miami
In one of the crazier finishes in Bradley Center history, Middleton barely got off a game-winning shot before the buzzer following a save by Zaza Pachulia, draining a game-winner against Miami for a 89-88 victory. It’s one of the craziest highlights you’ll see, followed by a raucous celebration.
No Giannis? It’s Middleton time (July 1, 2021, Game 5 of Eastern Conference finals vs. Atlanta)
With Antetokounmpo sidelined by a knee injury and the Bucks in a must-win situation in a 2-2 series, Middleton scored 26 points with 13 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. “Bucks in 6” chants rained down at Fiserv Forum, a prophecy that finally would come to pass for the franchise when Milwaukee won in Atlanta two nights later to clinch the series, with Middleton scoring 32 points with seven assists and three steals. Middleton was also lights-out in Game 3 of the series, scoring 38 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Khris Middleton scores 51 points (Jan. 28, 2020, vs. Washington)
His greatest game by “game score” in the Basketball Reference database, Middleton joined Antetokounmpo, Abdul-Jabbar, Brandon Jennings and Michael Redd as the only Bucks players to score 50 points in a game (later joined by Jrue Holiday in 2023).
Middleton hit his first seven three-pointers and delivered an exciting dunk to reach the 50-point mark in a 151-131 win, becoming the oldest Bucks player to clear 50 points in a game at 28 years, 169 days. He hit 16 of 26 shots and made all 12 of his free throws, and did it all in just 36 minutes. Antetokonumpo wasn’t available in the game, giving Middleton a spotlight.
Keeping the Bucks afloat in the bubble (Sept. 6, 2020, Game 4 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Miami)
It’s a footnote lost to history because the Heat ultimately won that series in five games and sent the Bucks to a disappointing playoff ouster, but Middleton willed the Bucks to victory with Antetokounmpo sidelined by an early injury to keep the Heat from a sweep.
Middleton finished with 36 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. His three-pointer in overtime gave the Bucks a four-point lead with six seconds left, and he hit two free throws with two seconds left to ice the 118-115 overtime win. The Bucks stayed alive for only another game — Giannis wasn’t available for that game, either — but it was a brief respite from a sluggish postseason.
Middleton has playoff opus against Brooklyn (June 17, 2021, Game 6 of Eastern Conference semifinals vs. Brooklyn)
We’ve already forgotten this moment, when Middleton scored 38 points with 10 boards, five assists and five steals to help the Bucks force Game 7 with a 104-89 victory in a tense Eastern Conference semifinals against Brooklyn. Middleton scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and hit six of seven free throws in the final period, plus 11-of-16 shooting overall (5-of-8 from deep). The Bucks, of course, went on to win the series and win two more for the NBA championship. It’s the second-best “game score” in Middleton’s career.
In Game 3, an 86-83 rock fight of a victory, Middleton had 35 points with 15 rebounds and a huge layup with 1:17 left, then two free throws with two seconds left to ice it.
Down the stretch in Game 4 of NBA Finals (July 14, 2021, Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Phoenix)
Middleton was essential down the stretch as the Bucks rallied to stun the Suns, 109-103, and tie the 2021 NBA Finals series 2-2 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
He had a playoff career-best 40 points, with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. He did take a lot of shots — he went 15-of-33 — but given the stage, it was a massive effort.Â
‘We did it, huh? We f—ing did it!’
More than anything else, Khris Middleton will go down in Bucks history as an NBA champion. Giannis Antetokounmpo stared at his partner in crime and endearingly uttered those words, “We did it, huh? We f—ing did it,” during the postgame interview on national television.
Middleton led the Bucks in minutes during the six games of the NBA Finals in 2021 (42.5) and averaged 24 points per game, with 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
This story first published in February 2025.