Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton heads into the upcoming NBA season with renewed optimism. After undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason, Middleton's health is a point of interest for both the team and its fans.
The Bucks' forward is still not cleared for five-on-five action, but the organization remains hopeful that Middleton will be ready in time for the start of the season. Despite his current limitations, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed Middleton's participation in the team's training camp. However, his involvement will be restricted when it comes to live action activities.
"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," stated Rivers.
Overcoming Past Injuries
Middleton faced significant challenges last season due to persistent ankle issues, limiting him to just 55 games. On February 6, during a game against the Phoenix Suns, Middleton sprained his left ankle, an injury that sidelined him for nearly six weeks. He made his return in late March, only to face another setback when he sprained his right ankle in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Remarkably, Middleton did not miss any games following the right ankle injury, although the Bucks were ultimately eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason surgeries were necessitated by the sprains Middleton suffered throughout the season. Over the past two seasons, Middleton has undergone surgeries not only on his ankles but also on his wrist and knee. This history of injuries has seen Middleton starting last season on a minutes limit while avoiding back-to-back games to manage his recovery and performance effectively.
Looking Forward
Despite these challenges, Middleton demonstrates a positive outlook. General Manager Jon Horst praised Middleton's current condition, indicating optimism about his active participation in the training camp held at UC-Irvine’s campus in California.
"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," said Horst.
Middleton himself has learned valuable lessons about his body and injury management over the years. "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," he reflected.
Upcoming Challenges
The Bucks' first preseason game is scheduled for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons. As this date approaches, the focus remains on ensuring that Middleton is adequately prepared and conditioned for the season ahead.
Middleton's journey with the Bucks has been marked by his resilience and determination to overcome physical setbacks. With the upcoming season on the horizon, both Middleton and the Bucks are eager to see him back on the court, contributing to the team's success while managing his health judiciously. The next few weeks of training camp will be crucial in determining how ready Middleton is to perform at his best when the season officially kicks off.