The 50 greatest NBA players of the 2020s (so far), ranked

45) Khris Middleton

Although he has tapered off towards the middle of the decade, Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton has done enough to be worthy of inclusion on this list of the greatest players of the decade. Middletown had his two best seasons of his career at the start of the 2020s, averaging 20.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, and 20.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively.

That resulted in him making his second all-star appearance in 19-20 and helping the Bucks win their first championship in nearly 50 years in 2021. Winning a championship is a big deal, though Middleton actually played sparingly during that championship run in the postseason and that marked a clear transition in his career with him playing just 33 games when the Bucks had the best record in the NBA in 2021–22.

His days of being Milwaukee's second-best player are likely over, with Damian Lillard taking over that role but Middleton could seamlessly transition into being a third option. Injuries are a concern with him playing just 83 regular-season games over the last two seasons.

He also had arthroscopic surgeries on both of his ankles in the summer of 2024, in his 30s. That probably doesn't bode well for his longevity and while he makes this list now, he may not when the entire decade is factored in.