Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with renewed optimism after undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason. Despite not yet being cleared for five-on-five action, the Bucks anticipate that Middleton will be ready for the start of the season.
"He'll participate in camp. We won't have him doing a lot of live action, coming off the surgery and all that. But all our skeleton work, all our transition work, our transition defense, our conditioning work, he'll be on the floor with us," confirmed head coach Doc Rivers.
Middleton experienced significant ankle issues last season that limited him to 55 games. His left ankle injury, sustained during a February 6 game against the Phoenix Suns, sidelined him for nearly six weeks. After a challenging recovery, he returned to play in late March, only to sprain his right ankle in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Remarkably, Middleton did not miss any games following the right ankle injury, but the Bucks were eventually eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason surgeries were necessary to address the lingering issues from those sprains. Over the past two seasons, Middleton has also had surgeries on his wrist and knee, further complicating his ability to stay on the court consistently. Last season, he started on a minutes limit and avoided playing back-to-back games, highlighting the care taken to manage his physical condition.
The Bucks' training camp is set to be held at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, where Middleton will be a limited participant in live-action activities. However, Jon Horst, the Bucks' General Manager, reassured that Middleton's recovery is progressing well.
"Khris is doing really well. It's just a normal offseason clean-up procedure. He literally is on the court right now as we're talking. He'll be a very active participant in camp, so Khris is also healthy," Horst said.
Middleton himself remains cautiously positive, relying on his experience and insights gained over the past years to manage his return. "Knowing my limits, knowing what pain is, knowing what you can play through and when it's not smart playing through. I've learned that a lot over the last couple years," Middleton explained. "And that's not saying I played when I wasn't supposed to be playing or I played when I shouldn't be playing. It's just experience, going through the years and talking to other people that's been through similar situations. I'm always going to be learning something about myself and my body as I get older."
The Bucks' first preseason game is scheduled for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons. While Middleton's involvement in preseason games remains uncertain, the focus is clearly on ensuring he is in peak condition for the regular season. The coaching staff's cautious approach during training camp aims to balance his participation while safeguarding his health.
With Middleton's history of injuries, his journey back to full fitness is crucial for the Bucks' ambitions this season. The team is counting on him to return to his All-Star form and contribute significantly on both ends of the floor. As the season draws closer, all eyes will be on Middleton's progress, hoping that the surgeries and cautious management will pay off.
For now, the Bucks and their fans remain hopeful, knowing that Middleton's return to full strength could be pivotal in their quest for another deep playoff run. His ability to navigate his recovery wisely will not only influence his performance but also the team's overall prospects in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.