Khris Middleton will reportedly miss Bucks' season opener against 76ers
The three-time All-Star underwent a pair of ankle surgeries in the offseason.
Khris Middleton will reportedly miss the Milwaukee Bucks' season opener on Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Middleton underwent a pair of ankle surgeries — arthroscopic clean-ups — in the offseason.
"Day-to-day and we'll know as [him returning] gets closer," Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said on Saturday "Each day he doesn't do anything obviously we get a little more concerned for sure."
Middleton, 33, played only 55 regular-season games in 2023-24 and all six games of the Bucks' first-round playoff series loss to the Indiana Pacers. He sprained his left ankle on Feb. 6 after landing on the foot of Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns. That cost Middleton 16 games. He would injure his right ankle in Game 2 against the Pacers. While he did not miss any games, the team kept him out of practice.
Injuries have limited Middleton to just 88 regular-season games over the past two seasons and he's not played more than 70 games in a full regular season since 2018-19.
The team was hopeful the three-time All-Star forward would be ready for the start of the season, but considering Middleton's value to the Bucks — 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game last season — they are taking a cautious approach to his rehab.
"We're not gonna just say 'all right,'" Rivers said. "If he doesn't go [opening night] then we'll wait 'til the next one. I'm really not concerned. It's a long season. Do I think he'll play in Game 1? I'm hoping. Still pretty positive there. If he doesn't, does it ruin my year? No. I think he'll be healthy soon and we'll have him a lot. So I'm not that concerned by it."
