Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is eyeing the upcoming NBA season with a sense of optimism, despite a challenging offseason. The two-time All-Star underwent surgeries on both ankles during the break, addressing issues that plagued him throughout the previous season. Though he hasn't been cleared for five-on-five action yet, the Bucks are hopeful that Middleton will be ready for the start of the season.
Middleton's offseason surgeries were a direct result of the sprains he sustained during the last season. His injury woes began on February 6, during a game against the Phoenix Suns, where he sprained his left ankle, sidelining him for nearly six weeks. After making a return in late March, Middleton's misfortune continued when he sprained his right ankle in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Despite the injury, Middleton didn't miss any playoff games, although the Bucks were ultimately eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
“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 reflected. “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’ve been through similar situations. I'm always going to be learning something about myself and my body as I get older.”
The surgeries performed during the offseason were not the first for Middleton in recent times. Over the past two seasons, Middleton has been under the knife for issues related to his wrist, knee, and ankles. Last season, he started on a minutes limit and avoided playing back-to-back games to manage his recovery better.
Head coach Doc Rivers has confirmed that Middleton will be a participant in the Bucks' upcoming training camp, albeit with some restrictions. “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.
General Manager Jon Horst also weighed in on Middleton's recovery. “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,” he noted.
The Bucks’ training camp will be held at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, providing the team an opportunity to build cohesion and assess Middleton's progress in a competitive setting. The team's first preseason game is scheduled for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons, a matchup that could offer a glimpse into what sort of form Middleton is in as the regular season approaches.
Middleton's experiences over the last few seasons have given him valuable insights into managing his body and understanding the fine line between playable pain and injury risk. The Bucks are counting on these learnings to help their star forward navigate the physical demands of the NBA season while aiming for another deep postseason run.
With a roster that has the potential to compete at a high level, Milwaukee's fortunes will significantly depend on Middleton’s ability to stay healthy and contribute consistently. His presence on both ends of the floor has been a critical component of the Bucks' success in recent years, making his availability and fitness a priority for the team’s aspirations this season.