(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Just two years after winning the NBA championship, the Milwaukee Bucks looked to have a great shot at earning another ring.
They finished with a 58-24 regular-season record, which was the best in the NBA, but they then stumbled and were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the gutsy Miami Heat.
Forward Khris Middleton recently turned down next season’s player option on his contract, making him a free agent, and some Bucks fans were likely nervous that he may leave.
But he is remaining in the land of beer and cheese, as he has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $102 million deal with the Bucks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton has agreed on a new three-year, $102 million deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tell ESPN. Middleton keeps franchise a championship contender with his return. Player option. pic.twitter.com/o2E7vXXQj8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
This is outstanding news for the Bucks, whose first task is to maintain as much of their core as possible in order to rediscover their championship mojo this fall.
Brook Lopez, their starting center and a true 3-and-D big man, is a free agent, but other than him, that core appears to be intact.
Middleton showed he was a primetime player in 2021 when Milwaukee won it all by coming up with some big fourth-quarter performances during the playoffs, and his ability to create his own shot helps take pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, he has been plagued by injuries lately, as he appeared in just 33 regular-season games this year and wasn’t consistently available during the first half of the schedule.
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