Photo: Milwaukee Bucks/X

Khris Middleton will miss the start of the Milwaukee Bucks’ regular season as he continues to rehab following two ankle surgeries during the offseason.

Despite being a key part of the team, Middleton has not participated in any of the preseason games, and he remains unable to join the Bucks’ full 5-on-5 scrimmages in practice, a clear sign that his recovery is still ongoing and will require more time before he’s fully ready to return to game action.

Middleton’s ankle issues date back to February 6, when he sprained his left ankle in a game against the Phoenix Suns.

The injury occurred when he landed awkwardly on Kevin Durant’s foot after taking a jump shot, causing him to miss the next 16 games of the season.

While the veteran returned for some time later in the year, the lingering effects of the injury led to his offseason surgeries, which have now delayed his readiness for the upcoming season.

Unfortunately, injuries have been a significant hurdle for Middleton over the past two seasons.

He has only appeared in 88 regular-season games during that span, missing a substantial portion of time due to various ailments.

Most notably, Middleton was absent for the Bucks’ entire 2022 playoff run, which hurt Milwaukee’s championship aspirations.

His ability to stay healthy remains a concern for the team as they seek to maintain their position as one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.

As the player continues to recover, the Bucks will look to fill his absence in the lineup with veteran forward Taurean Prince, who is expected to start in Middleton’s place.

Prince brings experience and defensive versatility to the lineup, though he won’t be able to replicate Middleton’s elite scoring and playmaking abilities.

The team will be hoping that Prince can hold down the fort until Khris is ready to make his return, while also managing the expectations of reintegrating him smoothly into the lineup once he’s fully recovered.

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