FanPost

Khris Middleton: The Bucks' All-Star That Belongs

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Editor's note: Many thanks to Kane Pitman (@mkebucksaus on Twitter) for taking the time to put this together! Brew Hoop is happy to welcome Kane as a guest today, and here's hoping he stops by again soon!

CHARLOTTE – Quiet, humble, unassuming.

Three words that sum up smooth moving Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Khris Middleton to a tee. Flying under the radar for so long, the formbook has now been read, and the former second round draft pick is no longer lurking in the shadows.

Now in his sixth season in Milwaukee, the 27-year-old finds himself sitting among the NBA’s elite, first as a Team USA squad member, and now as a first-time NBA All-Star.

Earlier this season as the San Antonio Spurs prepared to face the Milwaukee Bucks, Team USA Coach Gregg Popovich was in the middle of dishing out a friendly roasting to all and sundry in the media scrum.

As light-hearted as the banter was, Popovich’s tone changed as Middleton’s Team USA experience was mentioned, and he revealed some advice he had for the 6-foot-8 forward.

"I told him, ‘I want you to act and play here like you belong.’ It’s what he needs and it’s what he’s showing," Popovich shared.

"It sounds simple, but it’s not. There’s a lot of great players out there and when you look around and there’s all these guys that have been on an Olympic team before and they’re the best players in the league and you’re a young guy, you might feel a little bit like, where am I?

"I feel that as a coach when I walk out there, so I wanted him to feel comfortable as much as I could so that’s why I told him to understand you belong, if you didn’t belong you wouldn’t be here, and I think he appreciated that."

A product of the Popovich school of coaching, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer understands the power of words in that type of setting.

"When you have someone like Gregg Popovich give you any kind of advice or words of encouragement and tell you where you belong and how good you are, I mean, it’s impactful for a player like Khris," Budenholzer said.

Middleton has long stated his desire to be named an All-Star and recalled that conversation with Popovich while surrounded by media at Bojangles Coliseum on All-Star media day.

"It was a great feeling to hear that from Coach Pop and to be involved this weekend [as an All-Star], the hard work is paying off and hopefully good the good things keep coming."

A great feeling sure, but is he at the stage in his career where he actually believes he belongs?

"Definitely, I’m a confident guy," Middleton said without hesitation.

"I don’t talk about it a lot and it may not seem like it but I’m a confident guy. I’ve been in this league for a long time already, I’ve produced in this league on some high stages so when I walk into the gym I definitely feel like I belong everywhere I go."

Speaking with players and coaches around the league, Middleton is consistently the name mentioned with Giannis Antetokounmpo when analyzing what has led to Milwaukee’s 60-win pace – a mark they haven’t reached since the 60-win Bucks of 1981.

Washington Wizard All-Star Bradley Beal was the latest NBA star to heap praise on the Texas A&M product.

"He plays at his own pace. He doesn’t get sped up by anybody, he’s crafty, uses his body really well," Beal said.

"He’s a key, key, key reason they are at the top of the east right now, he’s definitely more than deserving of being an All-Star. It’s been a long time coming for him and I’m really happy he got the nod."

Similar to Middleton, Beal has established himself as a top line player in the league. With that, he understands the process of building the self-confidence required to mentally acclimate to being at an event such as All-Star weekend.

"I’ve done that this year, this being my second time [as an All-Star] back-to-back, it’s embracing being here, embracing being a top-24 player in the league," Beal admitted.

"It’s about not being afraid to say that and not being afraid to be who you are. You are here so I definitely understand the message and it’s kind of difficult because Khris and I, I would say we are similar, we are both humble and just want to get better and hoop."

"We’re not two guys who are going to come out and say, ‘we are stars, we need this or that,’ we are just going to come out and let our games speak for themselves."

Middleton’s game is indeed speaking for itself through 57 games, posting averages of 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists while being tasked with the job of defending players of the calibre of Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant on the defensive end.

Budenholzer points to Middleton’s experiences with the National Team as a key driver for his stars continued growth.

"I think the USA basketball experience and being around the best players and just continuing to take steps in his growth and in his career, those things add up and obviously he’s had a great first half of the season and is deserving of being an All-Star," Budenholzer said.

Along with Budenholzer, Antetokounmpo can’t hold his smile back when talking about his fellow All-Star, with the two forming a close bond over their five years together in Milwaukee.

"I’m so happy for Khris, he worked so hard to be here and he definitely deserves everything he gets. It’s just amazing to see the growth of him, from Team USA to the All-Star game, there’s so many things to come," Antetokounmpo said.

"As long as he keeps working hard he’s going to be fine and he’s been doing great so far, he’s making everybody and his family proud."

From appearances on ESPN’s The Jump, to courtside interviews on NBA TV, it’s a new world for Middleton, and one he will have to get used to, though he’s just fine with that as long as he is producing on the floor.

"I mean, it’s a part of growing. Whatever comes with that I’m fine with it as long as I’m still producing on the court them I’m fine with all of that," Middleton responds casually.

Khris Middleton: Quiet, humble, unassuming, and now an All-Star.

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