Khris Middleton spent over a decade wearing Milwaukee green, becoming more than just aen elite shooter or Giannis Antetokounmpo’s sidekick. He was part of the city’s basketball heartbeat, the player who helped deliver a long-awaited NBA championship in 2021 and defined what it meant to be a Buck.
So when he came onto the Fiserv Forum floor as a member of the Washington Wizards, the emotions ran deep. Fans stood, clapped, and cheered for the man who’d given them 12 seasons, 735 games, and countless playoff moments.
From the moment his name echoed through the pregame introductions, Middleton felt the love. When the Bucks rolled out a video tribute during a timeout, the crowd erupted again, giving him one more ovation when he checked out with 23 points, his team’s top scorer in a 133–120 loss.
“It was almost a perfect night, if I would’ve got the win,” Middleton said afterward. “But the love from the fans and the city — that meant the world to me.”
Giannis welcomes his old running mate
For Giannis Antetokounmpo, the night carried a strange weight too. The two had entered the league as teammates, grew into All-Stars together, and hoisted a championship banner side by side. Facing each other felt almost unnatural.
“Yeah, it was weird,” Giannis admitted after the game. “He still can hoop, though. He’s always smart, plays the right way, makes his team better. He’s one of those guys you always want on your side.”
Giannis made sure Middleton’s homecoming didn’t come with a win, though. The two-time MVP dropped 37 points with 14 rebounds and 5 assists in just 27 minutes, powering Milwaukee to a comfortable victory. But the competitive spirit between them was as friendly as it was fierce.
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In one memorable second-quarter play, Middleton stood his ground under the rim and drew a charge on Giannis, something that made both men grin afterward. “I saw his eyes light up when he saw me there,” Middleton said, laughing. “Either take the charge or get out of the way. I’ve taken worse hits from him, that one was light.”
The bond that built a contender
Middleton wasn’t the loudest voice in the locker room, but teammates always pointed to his calm presence and professionalism as reasons for Milwaukee’s sustained success. From his clutch playoff performances to his defensive steadiness, he was the perfect counterbalance to Giannis’ chaos.
When the Bucks traded Middleton to Washington in February, a deal that brought Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee, it marked the end of an era. For Giannis, it also meant something he’d never experienced before: playing an NBA game without Middleton beside him.
Still, their friendship remains intact. They embraced at center court when the final buzzer sounded, two players who had climbed to the top together and were now opponents, still pushing each other in different jerseys.
“He’s always going to be my brother,” Giannis said. “But tonight, I had to beat him.”
Milwaukee’s lasting appreciation
The reception Middleton received made one thing clear: time and trades can’t change what he meant to the Bucks. Every cheer, every ovation, and every thank-you sign in the stands was a reminder of how deeply the city connected with him.
“To get that type of appreciation, it hits you,” Middleton said. “That doesn’t happen everywhere. That’s every player’s dream, to get that kind of love from the place you gave everything to.”
Even after moving on, Khris Middleton’s name will always carry weight in Milwaukee. The banners, memories, and standing ovations guarantee it.
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