© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Khris Middleton has no problem deferring to Damian Lillard
Forming super teams, while beneficial, can be contentious due to the battle for shot distribution and overall team hierarchy. However, Khris Middleton is an exception to this rule. Even though one of the league’s premier talents, Damian Lillard, joined the Milwaukee Bucks, Middleton expressed his willingness to defer to Lillard's wants and needs without hesitation.
All about winning
Middleton has been in the NBA for over a decade now and has seen it all. From the struggles of his early years with the Bucks to ascending to the peak of the NBA mountain in 2021 to struggling through injuries last season, Middleton has experienced it all and is still pushing for more. He knows how to win and what it takes to do so.
Middleton understands having a lethal scoring weapon in seven-time All-NBA member Damian Lillard creates an avenue for success. As a result, Middleton expressed a willingness to sacrifice some of his own offensive touches to make space for Lillard and maximize the team’s championship potential.
“You’ve seen how good that guy is. It would be selfish to try to compete with him for shots and touches when a guy like that wants to come and help us win. Everybody knows that I’m about winning, so I have no problems with putting my pride to the side, sacrificing a couple things for the team to succeed. I think that’s what it’s all about,” Middleton said in an interview with The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Makes the game easier
With the kind of defensive attention opposing teams have to put on Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Middleton stands to shoot the most open looks he’s had in a long time. That, plus the increase in ball movement and court spacing, is what has Middleton excited for the upcoming season.
“I’m counting on him to make the game a lot easier for me with the amount of attention that he creates and has with the ball in his hands and off the ball. I’m excited,” Middleton remarked.
