Khris Middleton Responds to Giannis Antetokounmpo's Remarks on Free Agency

Khris Middleton Responds to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s recent comments regarding free agency. While some within the Milwaukee Bucks organization may have felt uneasy due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s statements, especially concerning his stance on free agency, Khris Middleton asserts that he remains unfazed. According to the seasoned wingman, Giannis has consistently expressed similar sentiments whenever his contract negotiations approach.

Khris Middleton Responds to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Remarks on Free Agency

“I think it’s kind of business as usual either way. It doesn’t affect me personally. I don’t think it affects us as a team. I think this is something he said almost every year he’s come up in contract extension talks,” Middleton remarked during a conversation with ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Motivating the Team

Middleton elaborated on his understanding of the perspective of the “Greek Freak” and emphasized that he didn’t want the team to become complacent. Following their NBA championship win in 2021, the Bucks faced disappointment in the NBA Playoffs over the past two seasons, culminating in an early exit this year.

“We want this guy to come back because he’s one of the best players in the world. He’s one of the best players in franchise history. So when he says things like that, I think he just wants to challenge the team, the organization, to keep putting us in position to win championships,” Middleton continued.

Self-Imposed Pressure

Additionally, Middleton highlighted that Giannis was not only holding the franchise and its decision-makers accountable but was also applying pressure on himself. The performance of each season hinges on Giannis, and no one understands this better than the two-time NBA MVP himself.

“But I think it’s just something that he just wants to keep putting pressure on everybody. And that’s himself also. He’s not just pointing a finger at everybody else saying, ‘You guys have to do this for me.’ I think he’s putting that pressure on himself to be better, to come in and be great every year.”