The Milwaukee Bucks forward, Khris Middleton, is preparing to embrace the upcoming NBA season with a renewed sense of optimism. However, Middleton’s journey to the new season comes with a backdrop of significant surgeries and a stringent recovery process.
During the offseason, Middleton underwent surgeries on both ankles, a necessary step to address lingering issues that have hampered his performance. Despite these procedures, the Bucks remain hopeful about Middleton’s readiness for the start of the season. Head coach Doc Rivers expressed confidence in Middleton’s participation during the training camp. "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 confirmed.
It is important to note that Middleton has not yet been cleared for full five-on-five action. The Bucks have therefore planned a cautious approach, limiting his involvement in live activities during the camp. This method aims to ensure that Middleton gradually builds back his strength and conditioning without unnecessary strain. Jon Horst, the team's general manager, shared an update on Middleton’s 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."
Last season, Middleton's ankle issues severely affected his availability, restricting him to just 55 games. A particularly notable incident occurred on February 6, when Middleton sprained his left ankle in a game against the Phoenix Suns. This injury sidelined him for nearly six weeks, causing a significant gap in his participation through late March. Unfortunately, ankle troubles did not end there; during Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Middleton sprained his right ankle. Remarkably, he did not miss any subsequent games, demonstrating his resilience, though the Bucks were ultimately eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The surgeries Middleton underwent during the offseason were directly linked to the sprains he suffered throughout the season. This isn't the first time Middleton has faced medical interventions. Over the past two seasons, he has had surgeries on his wrist, knee, and ankles. His health is closely monitored, and the Bucks manage his on-court minutes with great caution, a practice evident from last season when Middleton commenced on a minutes restriction and avoided playing back-to-back games.
Middleton's reflection on his recovery process is a testament to his maturity and experience. "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 shared. "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' training camp will be held at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, setting the stage for Middleton's cautious reintroduction to rigorous basketball activities. The first preseason game is slated for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons, a target date that will likely mark a critical point in observing Middleton’s progress and readiness for the regular season.
As the Bucks navigate the complexities of Middleton’s recovery, they are focused on ensuring that their star forward returns to peak performance without risking further injury. The blend of optimism and caution from the team's management underscores the delicate balance they strive to maintain, aiming for a successful season with a healthy Middleton contributing significantly on the court.