Khris Middleton: Get to know the NBA champion hoping to lift Team USA to gold

Khris Middleton is one of the star-studded names in the United States men’s basketball team competing at Tokyo 2020, in 2021.

The 2.01m-tall, 29-year-old is one of 12 members of Team USA in Tokyo bidding for a seventh consecutive Olympic title.

His team-mates include none other than double Olympic gold medallist and two-time NBA Championship winner Kevin Durant and six-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard.

Middleton’s Olympic Games are particularly special. The two-time NBA All-Star won the NBA Championship just over a week ago with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Joining him in arriving late to the Games Japan's capital were team-mate Jrue Holiday, and Devin Booker of beaten finalists the Phoenix Suns.

Olympic gold just a couple of weeks after winning an NBA Championship would undoubtedly be a special achievement and it is the target for Middleton.

However, Tokyo 2020 has been far from smooth sailing. Team USA fell uncomfortably short against France in their group opener on Sunday (25 July) with 'Les Bleus' snapping the U.S.’s 25-game win streak in Olympic competition stretching back to Athens 2004.

A much more complete performance on Wednesday (28 July) against Iran suggests that the American men simply need time having had a lack of time together ahead of the tournament. It’s a currency not in rich supply at the Olympic Games, but the medal matches are still a way to go and improvements can be made.

As for Middleton – what role will he play in Tokyo? Read on to find out more about the man from South Carolina and why he might just be the very thing Team USA need.

Khris Middleton: two-time NBA All-Star with Olympic potential

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Middleton’s basketball potential was evident as early as high school. He was deftly recruited by the Texas A&M Aggies and played college basketball before declaring for the 2012 NBA draft after his junior season.

Selected by the Detroit Pistons as the 29th overall pick, Middleton initially saw limited action with the NBA side. It wasn’t until the shooting guard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks that Middleton’s truly began to grow as a player.

Following a remarkable resurgence in the 2018-19 season under then new head coach Mike Budenholzer, Middleton received his first All-Star nomination.

He followed the season by signing a five-year $178 million contract extension with the Bucks, an apt achievement for the man known as Khris “Money” Middleton.

In the 2019-20 season, showing shooting excellence on all area of the floor, Middleton once again received an All-Star nomination. He finished the season shooting 49.9 per cent from the field, 41.8 per cent on three-point attempts, and 90.9 per cent from the free-throw line to leave him just outside the nine-strong elite '50/40/90' club.

And this season, he played a big part in the Bucks ending their 50-year wait for a second NBA Championship, the side winning four consecutive games to beat the Phoenix Suns 4-2.

In the NBA Finals, Middleton averaged 24.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the six games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the work of a selfless number two

In the eyes of many, Middleton is an underrated basketball player.

It was around a breakfast table that the parameters of the partnership between Middleton and 26-year-old Greek-Nigerian superstar player Giannis Antetokounmpo were determined.

Back in 2018, Coach Budenholzer made Middleton’s new role clear: if the Bucks were ever going to challenge for the championship, he would need to play a supporting role to the 'Greek Freak'.

While Antetokounmpo deservedly won the NBA Finals MVP award with back-to-back 40-point hauls in Games Two and Three, and 50 in Game Six, Middleton managed 40 points in Game Four which was largely overshadowed by his team-mate's stellar block on Deandre Ayton.

Middleton is willing to work hard to make the stars around him, and that will be an asset in this US roster combining big names and young talent.

Forever drawing inspiration from the late Kobe Bryant

Another mark of Middleton’s quality as a player is his ability to draw on his emotion and rise up to the occasion.

Just days after the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, a man Middleton had always looked up to, the shooting guard scored a career high 51 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Bucks past long-time Eastern Conference foes, the Washington Wizards, 151-131.

Middleton’s phenomenal effort saw him become the third player in Bucks history to score 50 points and 10 rebounds in a game, joining NBA legend Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, and team-mate Antetokounmpo.

Speaking in a post-match presser after another inspired performance earlier this year, Middleton shared: “Kobe was one of my favourite players - if not my favourite player - growing up, besides (Michael) Jordan.

"I took a lot from his game. To go out there and play and put on that type of performance, I definitely can dedicate that game to him as a thank you for what he did for the game.”

To find out how to watch Middleton in action for Team USA in their third group game match against the Czech Republic, click here.