DALLAS — Before the Anthony Davis trade reunited them in Dallas, Jason Kidd and Khris Middleton spent four seasons together in Milwaukee.
Kidd took over as the Milwaukee Bucks’ coach in 2014 as Middleton was about to enter his third year. The Bucks, in the time they overlapped, transformed from a punching bag to a respectable outfit. After Kidd’s time ended in Milwaukee in 2018, Middleton earned three All-Star nods and won a championship in 2021.
“It’s a full-circle moment,” Middleton said. “Just because he had me at such a young age. And now being with him, it’s fun. We get to laugh at some of our horror stories and how we used to terrorize each other back in the day. But now it’s cool. Everything he told me was true. How the league was. What could happen. What is going to happen. But to be back with him — the coaching staff — it’s great.”
The 34-year-old Middleton is a battle-tested veteran in his 14th season. In his brief time with the Mavericks, he’s shown he still has some scoring ability. Middleton poured in 25 points Sunday in a win in Indiana and chipped in 17 points in the Mavericks’ 130-121 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
Middleton will be a coveted player if he and the Mavericks decide on a contract buyout before Sunday’s deadline. He said Thursday that he remains undecided about finishing the season with lottery-bound Dallas instead of potentially joining a contender.
“I’ll talk to my agent here by Saturday,” Middleton told The Athletic. “Hear what he has to say. Don’t know what teams are out there really. I trust him to kind of do that research and do that due diligence and lay down my options, and we’ll talk from there.”
Players must agree to contract buyouts with their old teams before March 1 to be eligible to play in the postseason with another club.
The injury-depleted Mavericks were missing several key contributors Thursday, including Cooper Flagg, who was sidelined for a fifth straight game with a left foot sprain. Kidd said Flagg remains “day to day.” The Mavericks’ coach has prodded Middleton to impart any veteran wisdom he has on the Mavericks’ teenage phenom.
“I’ve been talking to him a lot about how he can help Coop(er),” Kidd said. “He feels like he can’t help Coop(er) (because) Cooper has already passed him. He’s got a good sense of humor. Just looking at his knowledge and his understanding of the game, it’s been great working with Khris.”
Middleton praised Flagg — the 19-year-old Rookie of the Year hopeful — for his well-rounded game.
“That guy is amazing,” Middleton said. “He does so many things well at such a young age. He’s dominant. A lot of guys are testing him, and he’s passing those tests.”
Middleton was teammates in Milwaukee with Giannis Antetokounmpo for more than 11 seasons. He remembers Kidd pushing both of them early in their careers, while suggesting that Kidd coaches with a lighter touch than he did back then.
“He was a lot meaner with my crew,” Middleton said. “Rightfully so. But he pushed us. I can see he’s pushing this group in different ways. He’s still the same J-Kidd. One of the smartest guys that’s ever been around the game. He preaches trust. I wouldn’t say much has changed.”