Khris Middleton's Optimistic Return for the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is entering the upcoming NBA season with a sense of optimism and determination. After undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason, Middleton is set to make a robust comeback, although his journey back to full strength has been meticulous and calculated.
Sidelined last season by multiple ankle issues that limited him to just 55 games, Middleton's perseverance is evident. The severity of his injuries came to the forefront when he sprained his left ankle on February 6 during a game against the Phoenix Suns, which kept him out of action for nearly six weeks. Despite returning to play in late March, the injury woes continued as he sprained his right ankle during Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Remarkably, Middleton did not miss any games following his right ankle injury, but the Bucks were eventually eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason surgeries that followed were directly related to the sprains he endured during the season. It's worth noting that these ankle procedures weren't the first surgical interventions for Middleton; he has had surgeries on his wrist and knee in the past two seasons as well. Reflecting on his past experiences, Middleton shared, "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. 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."
Despite not being cleared for five-on-five action just yet, the Bucks anticipate that Middleton will be ready for the start of the season. Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed that while Middleton's participation in training camp would be somewhat limited, he remains an integral part of the team's preparations. "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," Rivers explained.
Middleton's challenges last season also saw him starting on a minutes limit and avoiding back-to-back games, a strategic move to manage his workload and safeguard his health. The team's cautious approach towards Middleton's rehabilitation and gradual reintegration into intensive activities underscores the critical balance between competitive zeal and prudent management of physical well-being.
Jon Horst, the Bucks' General Manager, expressed confidence in Middleton's recovery process, emphasizing the normalcy of the surgeries as part of an offseason clean-up. "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 affirmed.
The Bucks are currently holding their training camp at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, a key period for the team to hone their strategies and build chemistry ahead of the season. Milwaukee's first preseason game is scheduled for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons, a fixture that provides not just a competitive platform but also an opportunity to gauge Middleton’s progress and readiness for the rigors of a full NBA season.
As Middleton continues his journey towards full fitness, his presence on the floor, even in a limited capacity, will be a significant boost for the Bucks. His experience, skill set, and leadership are invaluable assets as the team aims to make a deep playoff run. With a vigilant eye on his recovery and performance, both Middleton and the Bucks are poised to address last season’s setbacks and chart a course toward success.