Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is entering the upcoming NBA season with a sense of optimism, despite a challenging offseason marked by surgeries on both ankles. The team remains hopeful that Middleton will be ready for the start of the season, although he has yet to be cleared for five-on-five action.
Recovery and Participation
Middleton's offseason was anything but restful as he underwent surgeries to address lingering ankle issues that significantly impacted his performance last season. The 32-year-old experienced ongoing ankle troubles that limited him to just 55 games. In February, a sprained left ankle during a game against the Phoenix Suns sidelined him for nearly six weeks. Although he returned by late March, another setback came in the form of a right ankle sprain during Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Notably, Middleton played through the injury, although the Bucks were ultimately eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed Middleton's participation in the Bucks' training camp at UC-Irvine's campus in California, 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," Rivers explained. "But all our skeleton work, all our transition work, our transition defense, our conditioning work, he'll be on the floor with us."
Optimism from Leadership
Among the Bucks' leadership, there is cautious optimism regarding Middleton's health and readiness for the season. General Manager Jon Horst expressed confidence in Middleton's recovery, stating, "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."
Middleton himself shared insights into his approach towards managing his recovery and understanding his body better. "Knowing my limits, knowing what pain is, knowing what you can play through and when it's not smart playing through," Middleton said. "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."
A Challenging Path
The past two seasons have been particularly challenging for Middleton, who has faced multiple surgeries on his wrist, knee, and ankles. His physical limitations have often seen him start seasons on minutes limits and avoid playing back-to-back games. Despite these setbacks, his resilience and commitment to the game remain unwavering.
As the Bucks gear up for their first preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on October 6, all eyes will be on Middleton to see how he adapts and performs following his rigorous offseason. His ability to stay healthy and contribute effectively will be crucial for the Bucks' aspirations this season.
In a league where player health can often dictate a team's success, Middleton's journey serves as a reminder of the physical and mental toughness required to compete at this level. The Bucks and their fans will be hopeful that Middleton's offseason efforts yield the positive results both he and the team are looking for.