The Milwaukee Bucks came back from a putrid start to the year to a return to Playoff contention with a 19-16 record right now. They beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-105 tonight, with longtime forward Khris Middleton officially being moved to the bench before the game.
Bucks head Doc Rivers explained why Middleton has been benched by the franchise, citing chronic injury concerns.
“He keeps getting the tendinitis. It’s just not improving to the place he wants it or we want it. And so we just gotta monitor it. We’re cutting his minutes back a little bit and just trying to make sure he can get through this.”
“I think we’re thinking about this way too much, I’m just being honest,” Rivers said. “The bottom line is he’s just not moving every night the way you like him to. One night, you see he’s moving great, one night he’s not. His minutes go up and down with the way we want to do this medically, and it’s just a tough go for him.”
Khris put up eight points (2-7 FG), five rebounds, and three assists off the bench in the win over the Spurs. He played 20 minutes and 50 seconds, reinforcing the belief he’s likely on a minutes restriction going forward.
Middleton is a franchise legend after becoming a three-time All-Star and being Giannis Antetokounmpo’s co-star during their 2021 NBA Championship run. However, that version of Middleton is gone after two-and-a-half years of piling injuries which have led to him missing over half the team’s games in that span.
It started with a knee sprain before the 2022 Playoffs which limited his availability as the Bucks were eliminated in the Conference Finals. He would be sidelined for the first 20 games of the 2022-23 regular season as well with a left wrist injury. Shortly after his return, Middleton picked up another knee injury which led to an injury-riddled season as the Bucks were a first-round exit.
He started the 2023-24 season on a minutes restriction due to off-season knee surgery. As soon as he looked to overcome his knee injuries, Middleton suffered an ankle sprain in February 2024 which led to missed games and a minutes restriction through the end of the season.
He played through ankle injuries in the 2024 Playoffs before getting both operated on during the past offseason. First, he had a left ankle surgery right after the Playoffs and then a minor arthroscopic procedure on his right ankle in mid-June
Middleton is averaging 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this season, proving he’s way past the clutch-time killer he once was. Damian Lillard’s acquisition reduced the team’s dependency on him as the primary perimeter offensive option but his constant unavailability has hurt the cap-strapped franchise over the last two seasons.
It seems like the Bucks will have to consider trading Middleton this season, although Doc’s admission of his chronic ankle injuries won’t help his value. If there’s no tangible return, the Bucks are better off keeping a franchise legend who’s been Giannis’ co-star for the last eight seasons.
With the Bucks being told not to try for a Jimmy Butler trade, it seems like there won’t be any real upgrades on the market for Middleton. The hope is to maximize his talent with a limited load off the bench, as his body might not be able to hold up to the star load he had over the prime of his career.
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