For Khris Middleton, helping produce ‘Hoops, Hopes & Dreams’ was a no-brainer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s common knowledge that President Barack Obama is a basketball fanatic with a nice jumper. But did you know that late Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., could hoop, too?

The story of how MLK and Obama used basketball to make connections is revealed in “Hoops, Hopes & Dreams,” a documentary debuting on Hulu today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The 20-minute documentary with animation tells the story of how King Jr., Civil Rights leaders and Obama used the game of basketball to unify, connect for outreach, make lasting change and engage with young voters. “Hoops, Hopes & Dreams” earned the best documentary short award at the 2025 Cleveland International Film Festival.

“I liked everything about it,” Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton told Andscape after the film was shown to his teammates at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Jan. 8. “First of all, its basketball. Two of the most important people of our lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama are playing basketball and also using basketball as a vehicle to encourage people to come out and support their movements, what they were doing and support what they were fighting for.

“When I watched it at first, I was like, ‘There is no way Martin Luther King was a hooper.’ All hoopers love hoopers. We’ve seen the documentation and videos of Barack playing. But to know that Dr. King played is pretty cool.”

Among those interviewed in the film include U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, journalist Jemele Hill, executive vice president of The Obama Foundation Michael Strautmanis, former Obama aid and Duke basketball player Reginald L. Love, and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Jerry West in his last interview before passing away in 2025. Producers of the film include Alexys Feaster, Alex Kaino, Jesse Williams, Afshin Shahidi and the late Michael Latt. Producers for the film with NBA ties include Middleton and Atlanta Hawks guard C.J. McCollum.

Middleton said it was a no-brainer to join as a producer after being invited by Feaster. Middleton said he has seen the movie five times and gave Feaster feedback after viewing it. His sister, Brittney, also was one of the producers.

“Alexis brought this to my attention and I did some research on it,” Middleton said. “We sat and talked about and I decided this was an easy, ‘Yes,’ with a lot of the things I’ve been involved in the past and was currently. I thought it was a perfect first film to produce.”

Said Feaster: “I hope this film accomplishes two things. One is to change the historical record. I think we all know and can attest what is happening in our country right now. They’re taking history out of our schools and out of books. I can go on and on. And just being able to have Dr. King’s legacy shown in way that will resonate with young people, which will help his memory live beyond.

“Secondly, it allows us to look at a film like this and see ourselves in that. You don’t have to be Dr. King. You don’t have to be President Obama. You can literally meet someone on the basketball court. You can meet someone in public spaces and have conversations about unity and community.”

The NBA has played games on MLK Day every year since the holiday was first observed in 1986 with the only exception being the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. The NBA’s MLK Day 2026 schedule features nine games honoring the legacy of Dr. King. Middleton and the Wizards will host the Los Angeles Clippers today in the nation’s capital.

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Wizards, is also co-hosting an MLK Day of Service locally on Monday at the Capital Area Food Bank in which high school kids can earn credit. The organization is also donating $25,000.

Middleton said he takes pride in playing on MLK Day.

“It’s cool. It really is special because we’re not in this position without King,” Middleton said. “We’re not able to be on this platform without King. We’re all mixed races. People from all over the world. I got teammates from Paris and Switzerland. To be able to play with all those different guys on that day is special just knowing that is something that he fought for. Hopefully, he is smiling down and looking at us knowing he has done his job well.”

Middleton also said he has previously spent time with Obama while playing for the Bucks. Obama’s brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, previously worked for the Milwaukee Bucks as vice president of player and organizational development. Middleton played for the Bucks from 2013-2025 before being traded to Washington.

“During my first meeting, President Obama he knew my name,” Middleton said. “And this was before I became an All-Star and during my first couple years in Milwaukee. So, this let me know he was really a basketball fan and he was really a hooper. He knew who the guys were at the end of the bench on not the best teams.”

Middleton is a three-time NBA All-Star who won a championship with the Bucks in 2021. The 14-year veteran has had four seasons in which he averaged over 20 points in his career. The 34-year-old, however, now averages 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists while starting in all 28 games he has played in this season.

Middleton has been hampered by injuries in recent years, including missing Friday’s road game against the Sacramento Kings to right knee injury management. He is making $33.2 million in the final year of his contract. Middleton will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“My body feels great,” Middleton said. “The Wizards have been doing a great job of maintaining my body, keeping my body at a high level. I’m not scoring the way or shooting the way I was capable of in the past, but I’m doing everything else.

“I’ve always prided myself on being more than just a shooter or a scorer and doing other things on the court that doesn’t always show impact on the stat sheet. But I’m excited about the future we have and I’m going to finish out my contract and see where it goes from there.”

The Wizards are also excited to see where they go with newcomer Trae Young on their roster. The four-time NBA All-Star was acquired by Washington from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-player trade on Jan. 9 but isn’t expected to debut until after the All-Star Break. Middleton and the Bucks played against Young and the Hawks during the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference finals.

“I’m excited to play with Trae,” Middleton said. “I’ve played against him many times. Everyone remembers the [2021] Eastern Conference finals and how he got hurt. I know the competitor he is, how skillful and how much a leader he is. He is probably going through a tough time right now with the trade just like I did after changing locations after being somewhere for so long.

“I hope he knows how excited we are that he is here with us. Hopefully, we can do something special.”

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