{"id":98369,"date":"2024-09-29T10:06:31","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T14:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=98369"},"modified":"2024-09-29T10:06:53","modified_gmt":"2024-09-29T14:06:53","slug":"bucks-injury-report-spells-caution-for-star-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/29\/bucks-injury-report-spells-caution-for-star-player\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucks Injury Report Spells Caution For Star Player"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/28\/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-trains-with-top-5-draft-prospects\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0most recent injury report lists\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/middlkh01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Khris Middleton<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0still on the injury recovery watch. While the star has not yet <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">been cleared<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> for full basketball participation, the Bucks may go through training camp and pre-season without their star. If caution is the main reason for keeping Middleton sitting for now, that is a good sign rather than bad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Sources: Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton (procedures on both ankles) has not been cleared for five-on-five action with training camp commencing Oct. 1. He\u2019s progressing nicely, but team is taking a cautious approach as he\u2019s expected to take part in most of camp activities. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/e04WOux4os\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/e04WOux4os<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisBHaynes\/status\/1840151476808945892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Bucks Injury Report Spells Caution For Khris Middleton<\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Milwaukee Bucks and NBA insider\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisBHaynes\/status\/1840151476808945892\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chris Haynes have reported<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0that star forward Khris Middleton has yet to <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be cleared<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> for five-on-five basketball play. The three-time All-Star remains in recovery mode following\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/40583939\/reports-bucks-middleton-recovering-ankle-surgeries\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">surgical procedures on both ankles<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0this offseason. Training camp and pre-season games begin next week; however, as of right now, Middleton&#8217;s immediate status is up in the air. However, the Bucks expect him to be able to participate in basketball activities sooner rather than later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Despite the organization&#8217;s decision not to clear him just yet, Middleton is said to be progressing nicely in his recovery. He suffered a left ankle sprain this past February but continued playing after the injury. He played in 18 games\u2014regular and playoff\u2014while hobbled. The bright spot here is that Milwaukee doesn&#8217;t play their first real game of the new season until October 23. They travel to Philadelphia for a matchup against the new-look 76ers on ESPN to open their season. So, that gives Middleton just over three weeks to complete his recovery and be cleared for action.<\/p>\n<h3>Middleton&#8217;s Recent Injury Resume<\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The last two NBA campaigns have not played out well for the former champion. The Bucks&#8217; star wing laced his shoes up for only 88 games, averaging under 26 minutes per game. A fully healthy Middleton would surely exceed 30 minutes. Unfortunately, his ankles have burdened him greatly. Additionally, he required arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in 2023. The procedure followed Milwaukee&#8217;s first-round playoff exit against the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/26\/miami-heat-sign-former-villanova-guard-to-exhibt-10-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Miami Heat.<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Like his right ankle, Middleton played games with that knee issue leading up to the playoffs before going under the knife later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One could point to Middleton<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8216;s recent physical issues as a factor in the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bucks&#8217;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> less-than-spectacular seasons and playoff performances since they won the NBA championship in 2021. In their playing time together, he and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have played reasonably well, making the postseason three times before\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lopezbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Brook Lopez<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holidjr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jrue Holiday<\/a> turned<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> up. When they were added into the mix in 2018 and 2020, a championship was finally within their grasp. Since then, Middleton has fallen prey to injury all too often.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The 33-year-old&#8217;s injury bug has come at the wrong time in his twelve-year career, as the Bucks are trying to make it work with\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lillada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Damian Lillard<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0now in the fray.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Next Three Weeks &amp; Beyond<\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Middleton&#8217;s injury status seems more cautionary rather than detrimental. If his recovery progress is on track,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the wo<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">rst-case scenario is that he will <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be limited for training camp and other activities. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, it might be the safer course of action to give the veteran the three weeks before the season&#8217;s start and ease him into regular rotation minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Regardless, Middleton is <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">absolutely<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> needed for Giannis, Lillard, and the Bucks to go anywhere this season. Last season was messy. The in-season coaching change resulting in\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/riverdo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Doc Rivers<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0taking the helm was messy. The chemistry and new pairing of\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/20\/giannis-antetokounmpo-olympic-performance-after-injury\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Giannis<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and Lillard were also, messy. Hopefully, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">an entire offseason, training camp, and pre-season under Rivers will help. Additionally, the feeling of continuity between the stars and Middleton&#8217;s soon-to-be health would also help. The Bucks can put themselves back in playoff contention and further, if health and availability are their friends.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Milwaukee Bucks\u00a0most recent injury report lists\u00a0Khris Middleton\u00a0still on the injury recovery watch. While the star has not yet been cleared for full basketball participation, the Bucks may go through training camp and pre-season without their star. If caution is the main reason for keeping Middleton sitting for now, that is a good sign rather than [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5081,"featured_media":98436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1608,15,62],"tags":[233,3070,187,190,979,306,239,324,4053],"class_list":["post-98369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-basketball","category-bucks","category-nba","tag-brook-lopez","tag-chris-haynes","tag-damian-lillard","tag-doc-rivers","tag-espn","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-khris-middleton","tag-nba-champion"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5081"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98369"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98369\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}