Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with optimism, despite a challenging offseason marked by surgeries and recovery.
Middleton, a key player for the Bucks, underwent surgeries on both ankles this offseason. These procedures were essential to address the lingering issues from last season, where significant ankle problems restricted him to just 55 games. A sprain to his left ankle on February 6 during a game against the Phoenix Suns sidelined Middleton for nearly six weeks. He returned 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. Despite the injury, he did not miss any games in that series, which saw the Bucks eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason surgeries were a continuation of Middleton's battle with his health. Over the past two seasons, he has also required surgeries on his wrist and knee. Last season, Middleton was on a minutes limit and avoided back-to-back games as a precaution.
"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 said. "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 these daunting challenges, both Middleton and the Bucks are hopeful for the new season. Head coach Doc Rivers has confirmed that Middleton will participate in training camp, although his involvement will be limited. "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 stated.
The Bucks are optimistic that Middleton will be ready for the start of the season. General Manager Jon Horst echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Middleton's current progress. "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 explained.
Middleton's presence in the upcoming season is crucial for the Bucks. As one of the team's most versatile and reliable players, his health and performance are essential for the Bucks' success. The team will be holding their training camp at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, a setting they hope will foster team cohesion and readiness.
Anticipation is building as the Bucks gear up for their first preseason game on October 6 against the Detroit Pistons. Fans and teammates alike will be eagerly watching Middleton's progress, hopeful that he can return to his All-Star form and help propel the Bucks to a successful season.
Middleton’s journey back to full strength will be a key storyline to follow this season. With his wealth of experience and a renewed focus on understanding his physical limits, there is cautious optimism surrounding his return. The Bucks’ faithful will be hoping that Middleton's resilience and determination can help the team overcome any obstacles they face this season.