Giannis dismisses ‘weird’ confession about Khris Middleton trade

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo shared his reaction to Chris Middleton trade during a recent appearance on The Thanalisis Show, hosted by his brother and teammate Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Former MVP called the experience “weird” and explained how he found out about Middleton is dealt to the Washington Wizards last season in exchange for Kyle Kuzma.

Antetokounmpo said he wasn’t aware of the trade when it first happened because he doesn’t use social media or follow NBA updates. He recalled learning of the deal while riding on the team bus, when he noticed Middleton was not in his usual spot behind him.

“It was very strange for me. You know, I’m not on social media — and he knows. Like, I don’t follow what’s going on. I don’t have Shams in my notifications like other players,” Antetokounmpo said.

“It was the team bus – we had a game in Charlotte, I think, or I don’t know where it was… and Chris always sits behind me, right? These last few years he’s always been behind me on the right side. So, I’m like, ‘Hey, hey, hold onto Chris?’ They told me, ‘Hey man, he’s changed.’ I said, ‘Really, really? Damn it.’”

“They told me, ‘Hey man, he’s been traded.’ I said, ‘Really, really? Damn.’… The whole week was just weird… After that we just talked and that was it.”

Giannis Antetomico on Khris Middleton Getting Traded 👀

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Giannis Antetokounmpo reflects on the ‘weird’ moment when Khris Middleton was traded

He added that the rest of the week was good because he was playing his first games without Middleton, someone who up until that point had been a part of every game he had experienced in his NBA career.

“The whole week was weird because it’s like I’ve never played an NBA game without him in my career. Then you know what the NBA is like — you either have to learn to swim or you’re going to drown. So you have to figure out a way to continue to help your team, you know, be great. After that we just talked and that was it.”

Antetokounmpo is off to a dominant start this season. In three games, he is averaging 36 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and one block per game, while shooting 68.3% from the field and 66.7% from three. The The Bucks have a 2-1 record and will play against the New York Knicks (2–1) on Tuesday night at 8:00 PM ET on NBC Peacock to begin a three-game homestand.

Middleton is averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 steals per game on 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from three in his first full season with Washington. The Wizards are 1–2 and will host the Philadelphia 76ers (3–0) on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM ET on MNMT.

The The Bucks and Wizards opened the season against each otherand Milwaukee won 133–120. Their second meeting is scheduled for December 1 at Capital One Arena.