After a breakout year that saw him become the second man behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris will go to Las Vegas to try out for the National Men’s Team. Among those invited to the camp with him are Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and James Harden. Coaching those who get selected to the team will be Gregg Popovich, who may pass down a few tips to Khris. This selection comes as a shocker to NBA fans but not most of Bucks fans as many called him underappreciated and underrated for how he scores the ball.
This season was Khris’s first full season since the terrible hip injury he suffered in October of 2016. Khris mainly relies on a silky smooth fadeaway or stepback midrange jumper. While this type of scoring may limit him when he has an off night he finds other ways to score, this can be seen by looking at his PPG (Points Per Game) this season. He averages 20.4 points a game in 80 games this year. His point total is the highest of his career so far and he has played the most games in a year since 2013. That 2013 season was his first on the Bucks after being traded from the Pistons.
Khris Middleton Named to 2018-20 USA Men’s National Basketball Team Roster
In conclusion, this type of breakout season was much expected by Bucks fans and the honor of being named to the roster was very much motivation to Middleton. After months of rehab and hard work, Middleton was thankful for the honor saying this when asked about it.
“It’s an honor to be apart of that pool selection, to be invited to the Minicamp, and then also have a chance to represent the country in the Olympics.”
If selected the players would also compete in the 2019 World Cup. Because of qualifying games being played during the regular season the newly renamed NBA G-League has sent players to play for the team. For now, the USA is 4-0 in qualifying and well on their way to having a spot in the World Cup. If selected he will be apart of a 12 man team that will play in the 2020 Olympics.
By: Weston Olds
