Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is approaching the upcoming NBA season with optimism, despite an offseason marked by surgeries on both ankles. Middleton, who expressed feeling "great" as he heads into training camp, has yet to be cleared for five-on-five action. Nevertheless, the Bucks anticipate he will be ready for the start of the season.
A Challenging Offseason
Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed Middleton's participation in camp but highlighted that the star forward will be limited in 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," Rivers said. "But all our skeleton work, all our transition work, our transition defense, our conditioning work, he'll be on the floor with us."
Middleton’s journey through the previous season was fraught with significant ankle issues, restricting him to just 55 games. The challenges began on February 6 when he sprained his left ankle during a loss to the Phoenix Suns. This injury sidelined him for nearly six weeks, delaying his return to the court until late March. Middleton's misfortune continued during the playoffs when he sprained his right ankle in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
Resilience and Recovery
Despite this setback, Middleton's resilience shone through as he did not miss any games after his right ankle injury, even delivering a commendable performance in Game 3 against the Pacers. Nevertheless, the Bucks ultimately succumbed to the Pacers in six games.
The surgeries Middleton underwent in the offseason were directly related to the sprains suffered during the season. According to the Bucks’ General Manager Jon Horst, the procedures were a routine cleanup necessary for Middleton's recovery. "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 shared.
Future Uncertainties
In the past two seasons, Middleton has missed a fair amount of games due to multiple injuries, with surgeries on his wrist, knee, and ankles. Last season, he started on a minutes limit and avoided playing back-to-back games. This prudent approach to his fitness will likely continue as the team has yet to finalize a plan to keep Middleton healthy throughout the season.
Reflecting on his injuries, Middleton said, "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."
Optimism for the New Season
Despite the physical setbacks and the demanding journey back to full fitness, Middleton remains an integral part of the Bucks' roster as they prepare for a new season. The team will have their training camp at UC-Irvine's campus in California. Their first preseason game is slated for October 6 against the Detroit Pistons.
While uncertainties about Middleton's long-term health persist, the commitment from both the player and the team to manage his recovery and preparedness is evident. With his experience, resilience, and strategic approach to health, Middleton aims to contribute significantly to the Bucks' endeavors in the forthcoming NBA season.