Khris Middleton Is a Good Dark Horse for NBA Finals MVP

Somehow Khris Middleton is still being underrated. 

Over the last three games of the Brooklyn Nets-Milwaukee Bucks series, Middleton averaged 28.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Middleton was the second star to Giannis Antetokounmpo and was the closer the Bucks needed to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Milwaukee is the favorite to not only make the NBA Finals, but also to win it all. Normally, that would translate to the Finals MVP standings, but with Middleton that is not the case. 

WynnBET has his Finals MVP odds set at +3000. That is extremely low. Middleton is right under Trae Young in the standings, but Young’s odds are set at +1200. Despite being projected to lose to the Bucks, Young is twice as likely to win Finals MVP. 

Middleton has never been one of the best scorers in the league, however he has increased his scoring from the regular season to the postseason, is a high-level defender and assumes the role of taking jumpers in crunch time. For nearly any other player, that would be a recipe to be taken as a serious contender for the award.

The only way it makes sense is because he is in the shadow of Antentokounmpo. Yet if the second-round series proved anything, it’s that Middleton is creating his own lane and putting himself closer to being an equal rather than a sidekick. 

The Bucks rely on Middleton for a lot. He should have higher odds to win the award and as Milwaukee gets closer and closer to an NBA title, his odds should rise. Nevertheless, the line that his odds are at right now is nothing short of disrespect. 

Middleton makes sense as a sneaky pick to win Finals MVP. Despite being a contender on the floor, he is a long shot in the standings, which could turn out to be great value.