Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is anticipated to make his 2024-25 season debut on Friday against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, following a lengthy recovery from offseason surgeries on both ankles.
The Bucks issued an injury report on Thursday, listing the three-time All-Star as probable for the matchup, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed on Wednesday that Middleton participated in a five-on-five practice earlier that day. His comments came before the team’s 119-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, which ended a seven-game winning streak.
“Anyone who wants to play, and Khris is one of those guys, is frustrated,” Rivers said. “That’s mentally challenging. You see your team playing well, and although we’re doing fine right now, I can only imagine how difficult it was for him during our struggles. He wants to help his team, and he knows he can.”
Both Rivers and Bucks general manager Jon Horst had expressed optimism earlier in the season that Middleton’s recovery would not sideline him for an extended period. However, the 33-year-old has faced ongoing challenges with injuries, having played only 33 games in the 2022-23 season and 55 games the following year. He missed the final ten playoff games in 2022 due to a sprained medial collateral ligament.
When healthy, Middleton remains a key contributor. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds during the 2023-24 regular season. In the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Bucks’ first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers, Middleton stepped up, averaging 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over the six-game series.
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