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“It’s not easy to get there”- Giannis Antetokounmpo sounds off on Khris Middleton’s rise in the Milwaukee Bucks all-time scoring list

Antetokounmnpo couldn’t be happier with Kris Middleton’s feat of becoming the third leading scorer in the Milwaukee Bucks franchise.

Matthew Dugandzic

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Khris Middleton earned admiration and the respect of his multi-awarded teammate when he became the third all-time leading scorer in the Milwaukee Bucks franchise.

“Respect for this guy. If you followed his journey closely, I’ve been with him 11 years, like you’ve seen him, how hard he’s worked,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said of Middleton, who moved up to third place in the franchise all-time scoring list when he fired 26 points in Milwaukee’s 122-113 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

Khris just keeps getting better

Becoming the third all-time leading scorer in the Milwaukee franchise isn’t easy, but Khris was able to do it through hard work and commitment to the game, Antetokounmpo said.

“Every year, he’s come back better. He’s given everything for the game. He loves the game. He’s committed to the game. And just being the third all-time leading scorer for the Bucks, it’s a compliment. It’s not easy to get there,” said Giannis.

A true professional

Interestingly, Khris achieved the milestone against the team that drafted him as the 39th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Middleton played just one season with the Pistons and was traded to the Bucks in 2013.

For Milwaukee coach Adrian Griffin, Middleton is the epitome of a true professional.

“It's remarkable when you think about him being the 38th pick in the draft. It is a testament to what being a pro is all about. It takes a lot to come from where he started — he was drafted right here by the Pistons — to where he is now, an NBA champion,” said Griffin.

With the feat, Khris moved just right behind Giannis (17,558) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14,211) on the list.

A multiple All-Star, and an NBA champion, Khris is continuing to prove his worth in the league, and at the rate things are going, the veteran shooter could expect more accolades to come his way.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.