For weeks, Milwaukee Bucks fans have clamored for a sliver of good news surrounding the injury to Khris Middleton and his status moving forward.
Prior to Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Coach Mike Budenholzer delivered a positive update on Middleton that fit the bill. He stated that Middleton practiced recently and did “significant” 5-of-5 work. Budenholzer noted that while the Wisconsin Herd did not come down to Atlanta to practice, Middleton’s work was similar to how that would have been. Of course, before he played for the first time this season, Middleton went through several practices with the Herd, which was an indication that he was inching closer to a return. That appears to be the case again.
Budenholzer did say several days ago that Middleton was back on the court but did not say if he would play on the team’s current road trip. This latest update is another step in the right direction.
The latest Khris Middleton update is a positive sign for the Milwaukee Bucks
Given everything that has transpired with Middleton this season, this about is about as positive as one could have hoped for. To recap, after missing a significant chunk of games to start the season to rehab a surgically repaired wrist, Middleton made his season debut on December 12. He played seven games in December before heading back to the sidelines with sudden knee soreness after a December 15 matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Up until this latest update from Budenholzer, any word on when Middleton could return had been scarce, so it is glad to finally get some clarity on the situation. Budenholzer certainly did not set a timeline for Middleton, but it is good to know the forward is heading in the right direction. It would not be surprising if Middleton missed the Bucks’ two upcoming back-to-back matchups versus the Miami Heat, but things could potentially get interesting after that when they return back home.
It goes without saying that the Milwaukee Bucks will benefit from adding a three-time All-Star to their lineup. There will certainly be some rust, as there was when he returned the first time, but a healthy Middleton is exactly what this team needs right now. The team’s offense has struggled to get going for quite some time now, and a potential 20-point scorer would undoubtedly help get the wheels turning once again.
With injuries to Khris Middleton, Joe Ingles, and Pat Connaughton costing each of the three major time, the Bucks have yet to be fully healthy this season. As Middleton seemingly inches closer to his return, the Bucks are closer to getting all of their players available for the first time in 2022-23, which would be significant. For now, all Bucks fans can do is welcome this new update and wait for further development’s on where Middleton is at in his recovery and when exactly he might be back on the floor for game action this season.
Update: Middleton was assigned to the Wisconsin Herd for practice Thursday morning, which is another great sign of his status.
Stay tuned for further updates on Khris Middleton’s status for the Milwaukee Bucks.