Washington Wizards basketball player Khris Middleton received a warm welcome from the Milwaukee Bucks crowd when he returned to play at Fiserv Forum for the first time since switching clubs.
According to the NBA website quoted in Jakarta on Thursday, the audience gave a standing ovation when his name was called during the player introductions before the game started.
"Being in the building I helped build for over a decade makes this moment feel incredibly special," Middleton said.
The cheers grew louder as a one-minute tribute video featured Middleton's best moments from his 12 years with the Bucks.
At that time, Middleton had raised his hands and patted his chest as an expression of gratitude before the game or scored a three-point shot on the Wizards' first attack.
The moment was an emotional one for the 34-year-old, who has been a key part of Bucks history.
"I'm not going to lie, it feels a little weird (being an opponent)," he said.
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Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers also expressed his appreciation for his former player.
He called the forward a key figure in Milwaukee's journey over the past few seasons.
"He's a great player and has a lot of motivation to perform at his best," Rivers said.
Middleton is the Bucks' all-time leading three-point shooter with 1,382 attempts and scored a total of 12,586 points over 12 seasons.
He was also part of the team that led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA championship, the club's first title in 50 years.
After suffering several injuries in the last two seasons, Middleton now says he is in peak physical condition and ready to face the 2025-2026 season with the Washington Wizards.
