Milwaukee might not have ever cheered more for an opposing player than they did on Oct. 22.
Then again, not everyone is Khris Middleton.
Middleton, who spent a dozen years wearing a Milwaukee Bucks uniform, returned for the first time since he was traded in February. He had already squared off against his old teammates once not long after that trade last season.
But at the start of a new season, this was the chance for Milwaukee and Bucks fans to finally say “thank you” to Middleton, a player who arrived as an unheralded piece in a trade to becoming one of the franchise’s all-time greats who helped lead the team to an NBA championship.
Middleton was showered with love all night during the season opener between the Bucks and his current team, the Washington Wizards, with three standing ovations plus a tribute video from the team. After the game he called the fans’ response “pretty cool.”
And on Thursday, Oct. 23, he gave the fans his appreciation back.
“Milwaukee.. hard to put last night into words but the love was felt!” Middleton wrote on X and Instagram with a series of photos from the night. “I appreciate the warm welcome back… Will forever be a special place for me!! Thank you for an unforgettable night!”
Middleton, 34, had a team-high 23 points on 9 of 14 shooting and 3 of 5 on three-pointers in 29 minutes. He also had six rebounds and three assists.
While his Wizards lost to the Bucks, 133-120, it was a vintage game from the three-time All-Star. The smooth jumper. The step-back fadeaway. It was all so familiar and just like old times. He was just in a new uniform. On this night, that didn’t matter. It was all love for Middleton.
Brandon Jennings and others react to Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton, the team’s franchise leader in made three-pointers, received the love from fans in Fiserv Forum and on social media over the last two days:
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