The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to get back to their winning ways after losing to the Atlanta Hawks by the score of 119-104 on Wednesday. The loss snapped what had been a season-saving seven-game winning streak, which Milwaukee desperately needed after starting the season 2-8.
While stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each had strong starts to the 2024-25 NBA season, the role players around them struggled mightily. To his credit, head coach Doc Rivers was not as patient as his predecessor when it came to switching players out of the starting lineup and altering rotations, but it did take some time for him to find the right formula.
Bouncing back after their Wednesday loss will not be easy as they are taking on the 18-4 Boston Celtics. However, Milwaukee is getting one of their most important players back for the first time this season.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Khris Middleton Is Making His 2024-25 NBA Season Debut vs the Boston Celtics
On Thursday, it was announced that three-time NBA All-Star Khris Middleton, who is also the Bucks’ franchise leader in three-pointers made, will make his season debut on Friday.
Middleton had surgery on both of his ankles this offseason, but was expected to be ready to play by the time the regular season started. Obviously, that did not turn out to be the case.
It was not that he suffered any setbacks or further injuries, it was just that it took his body longer to heal than doctors and other medical experts originally estimated.
Additionally, Milwaukee and Middleton himself did not want him to return until he was 100% ready. From 2017-2022, he averaged 19.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 points per game while shooting 46/39/88 from the field.
From 2023-24, following his initial knee injury against the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Playoffs, Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 47/35/87 from the field.
Most notably, he went from averaging 71 games played in a season from 2017-2022 to playing just 44 games per season over the last two years. His minutes per game average dropped from 32.6 to 26.0.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Khris Middleton Admits This Was His Hardest Rehab
In a recent sit-down with Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Middleton was asked if this particular return from injury was harder than the others he has experienced in his career.
“Yeah. I think this one was definitely the hardest for me. Just because I had two surgeries. It wasn’t one. I was trying to be balanced on both feet, not compensate for anything because that can lead to other injuries, so I would say this was definitely the hardest thing to come back from, just mentally, physically, feel fine, feel fit, feel ready, feel confident and everything I have to do after that.”
As frustrated as fans were, it sounds like Middleton was even more so.
It is going to be great for everyone to see him out on the court again.
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