Following their gruesome 53-point loss to Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards head coach Brian Keefe told reporters that Khris Middleton would undergo an MRI after leaving the game with right knee soreness, according to Monumental Sports reporter Chase Hughes.
Wizards’ Khris Middleton To Undergo MRI
In 14 minutes, Middleton tallied eight points, two assists, and one block while going 3-7 from the field and 1-3 from 3. It’s not the clearest indicator of performance, but he also had the highest plus-minus (-17) among the Wizards starters in the blowout.
Middleton obviously didn’t stop anyone from scoring. Yet, it wasn’t because he was playing bad defense. On the offensive end, he helped keep them in the game in the first quarter with his midrange scoring. Furthermore, an intrinsic benefit of being such a seasoned player on a young team is that he also helps them be savvier.
With that in mind, the Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they can still build proper habits while they try to build their talent base. To that point, Washington is rebuilding but they’re not necessarily tanking. At the end of the day, they’re just not good enough right now. Their record this season (16-57) reflects that more than a desire to swing the lottery odds in their favor.
Professor Middleton
When Middleton was finally able to make his 2024-25 season debut after recovering from bilateral ankle surgery, it initially seemed like the damage from his lower body injuries was stacking up. He wasn’t as quick or as sharp as he was prior to that point.
That may have just been rust though. Following that rough start, Middleton wasn’t just moving better at both ends, he was putting up solid numbers. In his final 18 games with the Milwaukee Bucks, he wasn’t able to average 13.8 points and 4.2 assists in 23.9 minutes per contest, shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from 3.
The Wizards can’t be blamed for seeing him as a worthwhile addition.
Not only had Middleton gotten his legs back, his resume was even better than the guy they traded to get him. Like Middleton, Kyle Kuzma is also an NBA champion, but he’s never been an All-Star. Middleton has earned that honor three times. It probably would’ve been more if he could stay healthy.
Last but not least, Kuzma had grown tired of helping the young pups grow. He may not have said those exact words but it’s what he alluded to in one of final Wizards pressers. Middleton has been playing for a title-contender for years but, like new teammate Marcus Smart, his intangibles speak for themselves.
At their age, they would likely prefer to compete for rings. However, they don’t mind tutoring players who’ll be playing long after they retire.
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