Milwaukee Bucks: 3 Bold Predictions for Khris Middleton

Khris Middleton is a three-time NBA All-Star entering into his 11th NBA season, his 10th with the Milwaukee Bucks. Middleton in his 10 years with Milwaukee has done some great things, made some great moments, some great memories and ultimately, helped deliver the first Milwaukee Bucks Championship in 50 years with his aid to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Heading into the 2022-23 season in which Middleton will be 31 and coming off an off-season wrist surgery, let’s take a look at some admittedly quite bold predictions for what this season could have in store for Khris Middleton.

Milwaukee Bucks: Bold predictions for Khris Middleton: 50/40/90

Khris Middleton has flirted with a 50 percent field goal shooting, 40 percent 3-point shooting, 90 percent free throw shooting nearly every season in his career. Middleton missed out by 0.3 percent in the 2019-2020 season when he shot 49.7/41.5/91.6 percent on the three splits.

In the 2021-22 season, Khris Middleton had a slightly down year, although still a decent season that resulted in his third All-Star appearance, shooting 44.3/37.3/89.0. There is no doubt in my mind that Khris Middleton is capable of putting together a 50/40/90 season, it just comes down to the consistency in executing it for Middleton.

The addition of Joe Ingles as a secondary playmaker may aid Middleton by taking some pressure off of him as a ball handler, as will Jrue Holiday playing a fully healthy season. If Middleton can play with consistency and be able to play off the ball more, he could be in for a bounce back season.

Khris Middleton did a lot of his own shot creating in 2021-22, as evidenced by 56.2 of his made field goals being unassisted. Only Jrue Holiday (73.8 percent) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (56.9 percent) had a higher percentage of their shots unassisted. The Milwaukee Bucks do move the ball well when they are at their best but Middleton being the player he is still commands a lot of attention. However, if the Bucks put together a lineup that surrounds Giannis and Middleton with a lot of shooting, like Bobby Portis, Joe Ingles and Pat Connaughton, the opponent will have to choose whether to try stopping the Bucks’ All-Stars 1-on-1 or leave sharpshooters open for open looks at the 3-point line. If a lineup could open up more clean looks at the basket for Middleton it would go a long way in assisting Middleton to a 50/40/90 season.

One area that would go a long way to creating a 50/40/90 season would be some increased efficiency on pull-up jump shots, last season Middleton made 41.3 percent of his pull-up jumpers and 36.1 percent of his pull-up 3-point attempts. Another area of potential improvement is his catch and shoot numbers, Middleton made 38.8 percent of his catch and shoot attempts, both from the field and the 3-point line. Middleton did do well driving to the basket and scoring in the paint. So some improved decision making when contested from distance and working closer to the basket if the shot clock allows may also help Middleton reach the bold prediction of his first career 50/40/90 season.