3 questions for the Milwaukee Bucks following Khris Middleton’s return
By Dalton Sell
Heading into the 2022-23 NBA season, the biggest question surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks was Khris Middleton’s timeline to return to action.
Of course, the three-time All-Star’s 2021-22 season came to an early close in the playoffs after he suffered a sprained MCL. On top of that, Middleton underwent an off-season wrist procedure after he was dealing with a nagging issue throughout the latter portion of the season. After the forward missed the first chunk of the year, Middleton made his season debut on December 2.
With Middleton back in the lineup, one major question mark involving the team has been solved. However, there are still a few more looming over them. With all of that being said, let us look at three questions for the Milwaukee Bucks following Middleton’s long-awaited return to action.
No. 1 – Is there a role for MarJon Beauchamp in the Milwaukee Bucks’ rotation?
With the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected MarJon Beauchamp out of the G-League Ignite. From the jump, it seemed rather clear that the 22-year-old forward would have a difficult time cracking the rotation consistently. With one of the oldest rosters in the entire league, it would be tough for the rookie to get time over the seasoned veterans.
As the Bucks dealt with various injuries early in the season, Beauchamp was quickly thrust into an ever-changing rotation by Coach Budenholzer. In his 15 appearances this year, the rookie has been on the floor for an average of 15.5 minutes per game. Not only has he earned playing time, but the young wing even found himself in the starting lineup for six games. While Beauchamp’s numbers may not be the flashiest – 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game – he undoubtedly turned heads in his action with the Bucks early on. Beauchamp looked like a natural on the defensive end in Coach Budenholer’s system and strung together some impressive scoring performances as well.
Despite Beauchamp’s promising returns, the rookie’s minutes quickly faded as the Bucks started to get healthier. Even before Khris Middleton made his return, Beauchamp was not featured in the nightly rotation as of late. To make matters worse, the rookie has missed the past several games due to a non-COVID illness. With Beauchamp set to return soon, the question remains whether or not he can carve out a role for himself in Milwaukee’s veteran-oriented lineup. With his pestering defense, Beauchamp can be a big piece for the Bucks, but only time will tell if they unleash him.
While there may be some growing pains along the way, the Bucks should not hesitate to test the waters and see what the youngest player on their roster brings to the table.