Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Forward Khris Middleton He underwent two successful arthroscopic clean-up surgeries this offseason to resolve lingering issues, league sources said. Athletic.
Immediately after the playoffs, Middleton underwent surgery on the left ankle that had been bothering him all of last season. Sources said the procedure repaired some of the lingering damage caused by a sprained left ankle he suffered when he landed on Feb. 6. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin DurantThe shot hit Durant’s leg after he attempted a jump shot, and the closeout resulted in Durant receiving a flagrant-1 penalty.
“I’ve never had a sprained ankle that bad before,” Middleton said on March 6. “I mean, after it happened, I tried to play and run a little bit and see if it would loosen up. And it didn’t loosen up. It didn’t feel good.”
“I went in the back and tried to put the tape back on, but the minute I took my shoes off it just exploded, so I had to stop.”
In addition to the surgery, the 32-year-old Middleton also required minor arthroscopic surgery to resolve lingering issues with his right ankle, which took place in mid-June.
Middleton was walking without pain or discomfort Saturday afternoon while visiting teammates in Las Vegas for a summer league game. As for a timeline for his recovery, Middleton has already begun light court training, league sources said. Athleticand is expected to be ready by the start of the 2024-25 season.
12th year NBA The veteran Middleton missed 16 straight games for more than a month with a left ankle injury but returned on March 17. Middleton played in 12 of the Bucks’ final 15 regular-season games, with the three games he missed coming in consecutive games when he was sidelined due to injury management on his left ankle.
Despite lingering left ankle issues and a right ankle sprain he suffered in Game 2 of the series, Middleton performed well for the Bucks in the postseason, averaging 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 38.3 minutes through six games. Indiana Pacers In the first round.
Middleton’s strong postseason included a 42-point performance in Game 3 to help the Bucks win without the two-time NBA MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo He was selected as an All-Star seven times. Damian Lillard Overtime was limited, and Game 5 saw the Bucks become the first team in NBA history to win a playoff game without their two regular season leading scorers.
Chris Money Middleton ties the score! pic.twitter.com/o27gvnfFhs
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 27, 2024
But this season, Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 27 minutes per game while appearing in just 55 games. The three-time All-Star spent the first month of the season under a strict minutes restriction while recovering from right knee surgery he underwent shortly after the Bucks’ first-round loss in May 2023. Miami Heat.
After Milwaukee was eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the second straight year due to health issues, this will be another crucial offseason for the Bucks, as head coach Doc Rivers searches for ways to return his team to championship contender status.
Middleton has two years remaining on the three-year, $102 million contract extension he signed with the Bucks last offseason, which includes a player option for the 2025-26 season.
(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
