Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday were both key members of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks championship squad, flanking Giannis Antetokounmpo as his co-stars. However, it was clear that offseason rest wasn’t in the cards for them quite yet after they won the NBA championship, as they had to almost immediately fly out to Tokyo to join Team USA in the Olympics.
However, it seems as though that has paid off for the Milwaukee Bucks duo. Team USA beat France 87-82 to secure their 4th straight Olympics gold medal. Now, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton join a unique group of players who have won the Olympic gold medal and the NBA title in the same season. Redditor GOATDoncic77 has recently posted about the 6 players who have accomplished that feat.
Only Players to Win the NBA Finals and an Olympic Gold Medal in the Same Year:
Michael Jordan (1992)
Scottie Pippen (1992, 1996)
LeBron James (2012)
Kyrie Irving (2016)
Jrue Holiday (2021)
Kris Middleton (2021)
Bonus: LeBron James and Michael Jordan are the only two players to win NBA MVP, Finals MVP, and a Gold Medal in the same year.
Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday seek to be the first teammates to win an Olympic gold medal and an NBA title in the same year since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 1992. pic.twitter.com/Qh8AvsROpp
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) August 6, 2021
Kyrie Irving joins MJ, Scottie Pippen, & LeBron as the only players to win Olympic gold as a reigning NBA champion. pic.twitter.com/X0sXbBu5eZ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 22, 2016
That is certainly an impressive group of players. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton accomplished the feat as a duo on both their national and NBA team, in a similar fashion to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, both of whom were part of the 1992 Dream Team, which had one of the best collections of talent that has ever been assembled. Scottie Pippen notably managed to win the Olympics and the Finals in the same year twice, doing it once again in 1996.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were a duo in the NBA and won a title together. However, they accomplished this feat separately from one another, as Kyrie Irving won the Olympics and the title in 2016 with Cleveland, while LeBron James’ Olympic win for the achievement came after his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2012.
It is clear that the Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday duo has accomplished something unique, and they are now among a group of the elite. It has been a very successful year for them, and the Milwaukee Bucks must feel good about having the two next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
