MILWAUKEE (AP) \u2014 Khris Middleton considers a standing ovation from an opposing team’s crowd one of the ultimate signs of respect.<\/p>\n
Middleton received a few of them Wednesday as he played in Milwaukee for the first time since the Bucks sent the three-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards<\/a> at last season’s trade deadline.<\/p>\n The first ovation came when his name was called during pregame lineup introductions. Middleton got another round of applause after a minute-long video tribute<\/a> to him played on the scoreboard during the first timeout. The fans rose to their feet again when Middleton left the game for good after scoring 23 points in the Wizards’ 133-120 loss<\/a> to the Bucks.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s every player\u2019s dream, to get a standing ovation, no matter where they\u2019re at,\u201d Middleton said.<\/p>\n Middleton said he had been anticipating this game ever since the NBA schedule came out and he’d be opening the season back in Milwaukee. The reception he got from the Bucks fans exceeded all his expectations. <\/p>\n They wanted to thank him for everything he had done during his dozen seasons in Milwaukee, which included averaging 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in the postseason during the Bucks\u2019 run to the 2021 title, their first championship in 50 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n He said after the game the only thing keeping it from being a perfect night was the fact the Wizards lost the game.<\/p>\n \u201cTo get that type of recognition and appreciation from the city, the organization, that meant the world to me,\u201d Middleton said.<\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t the first time Middleton had faced his former team since the Bucks sent him and 2024 first-round pick AJ Johnson to Washington in a deal that brought Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee. He scored 12 points and missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the Wizards\u2019 104-101 loss<\/a> to the Bucks in Washington on Feb. 21.<\/p>\n But that didn\u2019t reduce any of the emotional impact that comes from playing against the Bucks in Milwaukee, where he had so many of his career highlights.<\/p>\n \u201cThankfully, I didn\u2019t cry,” Middleton said. “I heard some of my family members cried, my friends cried and what not. That means a lot to me, that they all feel a part of this and they all felt like they were back at home.\u201d<\/p>\n After the airing of the video tribute to him, Middleton walked onto the court, raised his arms and then placed his right hand over his heart a few times. The leading 3-point shooter in Bucks history then sank a 3 on the Wizards\u2019 ensuing possession.<\/p>\n Middleton also is the Bucks’ third-leading scorer with 12,586 points, behind former teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Middleton also ranks second to Antetokounmpo in games played (735), third in assists (2,990), fifth in steals (870) and seventh in rebounds (3,598).<\/p>\n In the days leading up to this game, Antetokounmpo referred to Middleton as \u201cmy brother for life.\u201d That didn’t stop them from competing on the court all night.<\/p>\n Late in the second quarter, Middleton even drew a charge as Antetokounmpo picked up his third foul.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw his eyes light up when he saw me under the rim,\u201d Middleton said. \u201cSo I knew either foul, take a charge or get out of the way. I wanted to set the right example for my teammates and got the charge.\u201d<\/p>\n How painful was it?<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve gotten worse hits from that guy,\u201d Antetokounmpo said.<\/p>\n Antetokounmpo wasn’t surprised by how well Middleton played.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s still a big treat when he\u2019s out there on the court,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cHe always plays the right way, makes good decisions, makes his teammates better. Defensively he\u2019s always going to be in the right position. He’s sometimes going to put his body on the line and take a charge. He’s always been playing smart.\u201d<\/p>\n Middleton\u2019s career totals with Milwaukee would be even higher if injuries hadn\u2019t limited him to 33 games in 2022-23 and 55 in 2023-24. Middleton missed the Bucks\u2019 first 21 games<\/a> last season after recovering from surgeries to each of his ankles.<\/p>\n He also had a sprained medial collateral ligament<\/a> that prevented him from playing in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals, which the Bucks lost in seven games<\/a> to the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n Middleton is feeling good now and eager to start a season without worrying about his health.<\/p>\n \u201cMy body feels great,\u201d Middleton said during the Wizards’ Wednesday morning shootaround. \u201cI had a great summer where I got to start from the basics and build up and not really have to worry about rehabs or coming back and procedures and whatnot. My body\u2019s in a good place. We\u2019ll see how it goes this season.\u201d<\/p>\n The season couldn’t have started much better for Middleton, who exchanged hugs with Antetokounmpo and his other former Bucks teammates and coaches before raising his arm to the crowd as he headed into the visitors’ locker room.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to get not too caught up in the moment, but the standing ovations are something that\u2019s special, something I really didn\u2019t anticipate too much,\u201d Middleton said. \u201cTo get that type of love and appreciation from the fans, I think that\u2019s cool. I think we all picture ourselves as kids waving to 20,000 people. I finally got that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n