The Milwaukee Bucks are getting some much-needed reinforcements. All-Star ahead Khris Middleton — formally listed as possible — is predicted to make his season debut Friday on the Boston Celtics. Middleton has been recovering from double ankle surgical procedure over the summer time and after lacking the primary 21 video games of the 2024-25 season, coach Doc Rivers and his Milwaukee teammates welcomed him again in type.
Middleton’s prolonged absence has been considerably complicated, because the crew’s exterior messaging forward of coaching camp had been that his return was imminent. Whereas that did not imply he can be prepared for Sport 1 of the common season, it has been moderately surprising that he is missed the primary 21 video games up to now.
When Middleton addressed the media for the primary time this season on Oct. 31, he stated, “I really feel good, simply not ok to play.” He stated there had been no setbacks in his restoration as much as that time, suggesting that maybe he was being extraordinarily cautious in approaching his return to the sport. And on condition that Middleton has dealt together with his justifiable share of accidents over time, that is smart.
However now, after an prolonged time of preparation to return, it seems Middleton is lastly able to go well with up for the Bucks once more, and the timing could not be higher. Milwaukee began the season tough, going simply 2-8 of their first 10 video games. However have since dug themselves out of that gap to go 9-2 over their subsequent 11 video games and have moved up within the newest CBS Sports activities’ NBA Energy Rankings. They’re now 11-10 on the season, which in what has been an extremely weak Jap Convention is nice sufficient for fifth proper now.
Milwaukee is trending in the fitting path behind the tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, who’ve appeared to determine issues out in 12 months 2 of their partnership. Lillard is again to his environment friendly methods after a down season, capturing 45.1% from the sector and 37.7% from deep whereas averaging 26 factors and seven.5 assists.
Antetokounmpo, although, is the central cause the Bucks have swung their early-season troubles in the other way. With out Middleton, Giannis is placing up a career-high 32.6 factors, which presently leads the league in scoring. On a nightly foundation, he is prepared the Bucks to victories, and with out his efforts, Milwaukee can be in a far worse place than it’s now.
The addition of Middleton ought to support in taking a few of the offensive load off Antetokounmpo’s shoulders. Middleton offers the Bucks one other dependable scorer subsequent to Giannis and Lillard, somebody who can play with or with out the ball in his arms and a man who will solely increase Milwaukee’s fourth-rank 3-point assault this season. Middleton’s struggled to remain wholesome within the final two years, however Milwaukee is hoping that with this prolonged absence, he simply took to get ready to return each bodily and mentally, will probably be the factor he must return to his All-Star methods.
Searching for extra NBA perception from CBS Sports activities? Invoice Reiter, John Gonzalez and extra consultants break down the league each day on the Past the Arc podcast.
