Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with guarded optimism, following a challenging offseason marked by surgeries and a prolonged recovery process.
Optimism Amid Rehabilitation
Despite undergoing procedures on both ankles during the offseason, Middleton is not yet cleared for five-on-five action. However, the Bucks anticipate his readiness for the start of the season, a sentiment echoed by head coach Doc Rivers. "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, outlining Middleton's planned involvement.
Struggles with Injuries
Middleton's recent health record underscores the cautious approach. The past season saw him grappling with significant ankle issues that restricted him to just 55 games. A notable setback occurred on February 6, when he sprained his left ankle during a game against the Phoenix Suns, sidelining him for nearly six weeks. Although he returned to play in late March, his troubles were far from over, as 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 due to the right ankle injury, but the Bucks' journey in the playoffs was cut short, as they were eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
Leadership and Experience
The surgeries in the offseason were necessary to address the sprains Middleton suffered during the past season. These procedures add to the growing list of surgeries he has had in the past two seasons, which also include operations on his wrist and knee. As he continues to manage his recovery, Middleton is mindful of his limits and the lessons learned from his injury-marred career. "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.
Training Camp and Preseason
The Bucks' training camp will be held at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, providing a focused environment for Middleton and his teammates to prepare for the season ahead. General manager Jon Horst confirmed that Middleton's recovery is progressing well. "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 assured.
While Middleton will be a limited participant in live-action activities during training camp, his presence on the court is an encouraging sign for the Bucks. The team's first preseason game is slated for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons, which will offer an early glimpse into how Middleton and the rest of the squad are shaping up.
As the regular season approaches, the Bucks and their fans are hopeful that Middleton's resilience and experience will once again make him a key contributor to their championship aspirations. With a careful and calculated approach to his recovery, Middleton aims to be at his best when the games start to count.