Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with optimism, after undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason. The Bucks remain hopeful that Middleton will be ready for the start of the season, despite not having been cleared for five-on-five action yet.
Offseason Surgeries and Recovery
During last season, Middleton faced significant ankle issues, which limited him to just 55 games. Notably, he sprained his left ankle on February 6 during a game against the Phoenix Suns, which sidelined him for nearly six weeks. Although he returned to play in late March, adversity struck again when he sprained his right ankle in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Despite this injury, Middleton did not miss any games, displaying remarkable resilience. Unfortunately, the Bucks were eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason surgeries addressed the sprains Middleton sustained during the season. These were part of a series of procedures the forward has undergone over the past two seasons, which included surgeries on his wrist, knee, and now both ankles. Middleton's recovery and minute restrictions were a hallmark of his last season as he started on a minutes limit and avoided playing back-to-back games to manage his health carefully.
Optimism for the Upcoming Season
Despite these challenges, the Bucks organization remains optimistic about Middleton's participation in the upcoming season. Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed Middleton's involvement in training camp, albeit with some limitations. "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 said, highlighting the careful approach the team is taking with his recovery.
Bucks General Manager Jon Horst echoed this sentiment, speaking positively about Middleton’s recovery process. "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 assured, providing further confidence in Middleton's readiness.
Focus on Health and Performance
Middleton himself has shown a pragmatic approach to his health and performance. Reflecting on his recent injuries and the lessons learned, he emphasized the importance of understanding his physical limits and knowing when it's smart to push through pain. "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," Middleton explained.
The Bucks will hold their training camp at UC-Irvine's campus in California, prepping for their first preseason game on October 6 against the Detroit Pistons. As the team and fans eagerly await Middleton's full return to action, there remains a sense of guarded optimism about the forward’s potential impact on the season ahead.
While Middleton may be limited during live-action activities in camp, his participation in skeleton work, transition drills, and conditioning exercises will be crucial in integrating him back into the team's system. His experience and veteran presence are invaluable assets that the Bucks will lean on as they aim for a deeper playoff run this season.
With a robust support system and a clear plan for gradual reintegration into full activities, the Bucks and Middleton are poised to tackle the challenges ahead. As the preseason draws near, all eyes will be on Middleton’s progress, hoping that his journey from offseason recovery to on-court performance will catalyze another successful campaign for Milwaukee.