Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with optimism, despite undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason. Middleton's journey through the past couple of seasons has been riddled with injuries, but his determination hasn't wavered.
Last season saw Middleton dealing with significant ankle issues, which restricted him to just 55 games. The difficulties began in February, when he sprained his left ankle during a game against the Phoenix Suns, an injury that sidelined him for nearly six weeks. Although he returned to play in late March, Middleton’s struggles were far from over. In Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, he sprained his right ankle. Remarkably, Middleton did not miss any games following this incident, although the Bucks were ultimately eliminated by the Pacers in six games.
The offseason offered little reprieve for Middleton, as he underwent surgeries to address the sprains he had incurred during the season. These surgeries were not unfamiliar to him. Over the past two seasons, Middleton has had surgeries on his wrist, knee, and now both ankles. Despite this, he started last season on a minutes limit and avoided playing back-to-back games to manage his condition effectively.
Going into the new season, Middleton has not been cleared for five-on-five action yet. However, the Bucks anticipate that he will be ready for the start of the season. Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed Middleton's participation in the upcoming training camp, albeit in a limited capacity.
"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 shared.
Despite the setbacks, Middleton's spirits remain high. General Manager Jon Horst also echoed this sentiment, reassuring fans of Middleton's readiness. "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 stated.
Middleton himself has reflected on the challenges of managing his health and the wisdom he’s gained from his experiences. "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 explained.
The Bucks' training camp will take place at UC-Irvine’s campus in California, setting the stage for Middleton and the team to prepare for their first preseason game on October 6 against the Detroit Pistons. As the new season approaches, the Bucks and their fans will be closely watching Middleton’s progress, hoping for a healthier and more consistent presence from the forward who remains a crucial component of their success.
In summary, while the path to full recovery continues, Khris Middleton is determined to overcome the physical hurdles and contribute significantly to the Milwaukee Bucks' aspirations. The team's strategy to manage his workload during the preseason underscores their commitment to ensuring that he is primed and ready when the games begin to count.