The long wait is about to end for Bucks swingman Khris Middleton, who is expected to take the court tonight in Boston for the first time since last spring’s playoffs, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Speaking to reporters at Friday afternoon’s shootaround, Middleton said this was the most difficult rehab process of his career because he had to undergo surgery on both ankles. Balance became an issue because Middleton couldn’t risk favoring one ankle over the other, and he said it was challenging mentally to be out of action for so long.
“Just not trying to get into a dark tunnel,” he said about his approach to rehab. “Having as many surgeries as I have, coming back from this one, I wanted to make sure I was all the way ready to come back, be as fresh as I can mentally to be in a good spot because this is a long, grueling season. I’m going to go through a lot of things during the season, going to get hit, banged up, whatever, to have that mindset that I can still fight through and to keep going.”
Bontemps notes that tonight will mark just the 43rd time that Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will play together since Lillard was acquired in a trade in September 2023 — and only the ninth time with Doc Rivers as their head coach. The trio has been extremely effective in its limited window, Bontemps adds, with the Bucks outscoring opponents by 22.6 points per 100 possessions with the three of them on the court at the same time under Rivers and by 17.5 points per 100 possessions overall.
Middleton is likely to be on a minutes restriction as he eases his way back into action, but he’s not sure what it will be. He added that his focus is seeing how his body reacts to live game action.
“That’s one of the things I’m nervous about, just to see how I feel when I get out there,” he said. “See if I’m going to be ready to throw up in a minute, but once I’m out there, I’ll be fine. If I’m going to shoot the ball over the rim, over the glass, whatever, just with the nerves and everything, adrenaline going. So I’m excited about it, see how it performs, see how it goes and just go from there.”
There’s more on the Bucks:
- Rivers has been saying for weeks that Middleton is close to returning, and he acknowledged that it was difficult for Middleton not to rush the final stages of his rehab process, per The Associated Press. “Anybody who wants to play, and Khris is one of those (guys), they’re frustrated,” Rivers said. “That’s mentally challenging. You see your team playing and although we’re playing well right now, I imagine when we were really struggling and he wasn’t playing that had to be really hard for him. You want to help your team, and he knows he can.”
- Lillard discussed the importance of psychological preparation as the Bucks got ready to host Atlanta Wednesday night following Tuesday’s game at Detroit, relays Lori Nickel of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I take it serious – mentally,” Lillard said. “You got to come in with no excuses and no crutches. You can’t come in thinking, ‘Oh, we had a back-to-back. We played last night, we’re tired.’ You do that, you start thinking like that, you’re beat.”
- Antetokounmpo talks to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports about his desire to capture another MVP award. Antetokounmpo won in both 2019 and 2020 and would join an elite group of players by picking up a third trophy. “I do want to be part of that conversation,” he said. “It lets me know I was able to help my team, carry my team, solidified [us as a team]. I’m not gonna lie, it definitely means something to me.”
Have to wonder if some guys have so many surgeries they are almost addicted to it. Like they focus on that “game” versus basketball. Competitive about healing. Then they don’t trust themselves so they go under the knife again. Look at all the people with plastic surgery. Potentially concerning for Bucks…
What in the world are you talking about? Who would get surgery for the heck of it???
Look at all the players. They have a small injury and the team quotes 4 to 6 weeks, then all of a sudden it’s 4 to 6 months because.they decided to go under the knife.
I don’t think it’s a drugs thing. Guys can do drugs without surgery. But these days the rehab process is like it’s own “game” and guys get competitive and focus on it, end up more than basketball. Do some research.
I’m saying medicine has evolved where it’s no longer “take 2 and call me in the morning” there is a whole infrastructure and department of doctors dedicated to rehab and fixing injuries. It’s gotten so big some guys can get lost in it. Like I said do a little research before you act so astonished
I’m not buying it. Everyone knows why people have plastic surgery. Can’t imagine anyone, particularly professional athletes,opting for surgeries, and rehabs, they don’t need. And why would they do so before retirement?
Nah, believe what you want to believe, and I’ll do the same.
I was not an athlete who participated in a sport people pay to watch, but I did go through 15 surgeries.
I don’t know what in the hell dude is talking about. There are surgeries you wait to have in the off-season. It’s not elective, it’s if you have cartridge catching and you need it cleaned out. You can deal with it to finish the season, but you’re going to just keep seeing degradation if you don’t get it taken care of.
That’s as close to “electing” to have a surgery as I could see and no, nobody wants that. It was always a sickening feeling.
I stopped at 23. I wasn’t a good enough Wrestler to go past College(and really have a chance) and…it just didn’t make sense financially, but for an NBA player?
LOL…I just find it amusing how some people believe athletes are addicted to that.
Dude…this is… next-level stupid.