Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with a sense of cautious optimism. After undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason, Middleton is not yet cleared for full-contact, five-on-five action; however, the team maintains confidence that he will be ready for the start of the season.
Recovery and Preparations
The Bucks, led by head coach Doc Rivers, have confirmed that Middleton will participate in training camp, though his involvement will be somewhat 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. This balanced approach is designed to ensure Middleton integrates himself back into team activities while protecting his recovery process.
Jon Horst, the Bucks’ General Manager, also echoed an optimistic outlook. "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 said. These updates provide reassurance to Bucks fans keen to see Middleton return to peak performance after a challenging season.
Struggles and Resilience
Last season, Middleton faced considerable challenges with his ankles, which restricted him to just 55 games. He initially sprained his left ankle on February 6 during a contest against the Phoenix Suns, sidelining him for nearly six weeks. Although he returned to play in late March, the injury woes did not cease. During the first round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, Middleton sprained his right ankle in Game 2. Despite the injury, he remarkably did not miss any games thereafter, but the Bucks were eventually eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason surgeries that Middleton underwent were related to these persistent sprains. These procedures are seen as vital steps to ensure that such injuries do not impede his upcoming season. Middleton’s past two seasons have been marked by multiple surgeries, including those on his wrist and knee, in addition to his ankles. These repeated setbacks prompted the Bucks to enforce a minutes limit and avoid back-to-back game participations for Middleton at the start of last season.
Looking Ahead
As the Bucks gear up for their training camp at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, set to commence soon, Middleton’s limited yet assured participation is a positive sign. The Bucks' first preseason game is scheduled for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons, marking the start of what they hope will be a campaign free of the injury misfortunes that befell Middleton last season.
For Middleton, learning to manage his body has become an integral part of his professional journey. "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 reflected.
This season, the Bucks and their fans are hopeful that Middleton’s hard-earned wisdom, combined with an offseason of careful rehabilitation, will culminate in a return to the form that has made him a crucial component of the team’s success in recent years.