Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with an air of cautious optimism. Despite the injuries that plagued his previous season, Middleton and the Bucks' staff are hopeful that he will return stronger and ready to contribute significantly to the team’s success.
Middleton underwent surgeries on both of his ankles during the offseason, addressing the significant issues that had limited his play to just 55 games last season. The most notable of these injuries occurred on February 6, when he sprained his left ankle in a game against the Phoenix Suns, sidelining him for nearly six weeks. Middleton made his comeback in late March, only to suffer another setback when he sprained his right ankle in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Remarkably, he did not miss any games after this second injury, but the Bucks were eventually eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The scope of Middleton’s health issues extends beyond ankle injuries. Over the past two seasons, he’s had surgeries on his wrist and knee, a series of setbacks that forced the Bucks to manage his minutes carefully. Middleton started last season on a minutes limit and avoided playing back-to-back games to mitigate the risk of further injury.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed Middleton’s participation in the team’s upcoming training camp, set to be held at UC Irvine’s campus in California. "He'll participate in camp. We won't have him doing a lot of live action, coming off the surgery and all that,” Rivers stated. “But all our skeleton work, all our transition work, our transition defense, our conditioning work, he'll be on the floor with us."
While Middleton has not been cleared for full five-on-five action, there is optimism in the Bucks’ camp that he will be ready for the start of the season. General Manager Jon Horst emphasized Middleton’s progress, noting, "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."
For Middleton, the key lies in understanding and respecting his body’s limits. Reflecting on his experience with injuries, 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."
The Bucks are counting on Middleton’s return to full health as they gear up for the new season. Their first preseason game is set for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons, a critical test for Middleton and the team as they set their sights on a successful campaign. With careful management and Middleton’s own growing awareness of his physical condition, the Bucks are looking to ensure their star forward can overcome the hurdles that have hampered his recent performances.
As training camp nears, all eyes will be on Middleton to see if he can reclaim his place as a pivotal player for the Bucks. His journey through injuries and recovery reflects a narrative of resilience and adaptation, qualities both he and the Bucks hope will lead to a healthier and more successful season ahead.