The Bucks will be missing a key piece to begin the 2022-23 season.
In July, three-time All-Star Khris Middleton underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist, and it’s unclear when he’ll be cleared to return.
Middleton last played for the Bucks in Game 2 of the opening round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, missing the final 10 games of Milwaukee’s run with a sprained MCL. Without Middleton, the Bucks sputtered, ultimately losing in seven games to the eventual conference champion Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
What’s next for Middleton? Here is everything we know about his injury and when he can return to the floor for the Bucks.
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What is Khris Middleton’s injury?
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim Bontemps, Middleton underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist.
On Bucks Media Day, Middleton acknowledged that he suffered the injury at some point after the All-Star break in 2022 and played through it for the remainder of the season.
While it is unclear exactly when Middleton suffered the injury, he averaged 21.8 points on .453/.414/.907 shooting splits after the All-Star break. The injury is to Middleton’s non-dominant wrist, which would explain why it had little-to-no impact on his production and efficiency.
Middleton was able to play through the wrist injury, but a sprained MCL suffered in Game 2 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs proved to be too much to play through.
How long will Khris Middleton be out?
At Media Day, Middleton told reporters that he won’t be ready to play on opening night, adding that he is optimistic that he can return “sometime near the beginning of the season.”
Khris Middleton acknowledges he won’t be ready to play opening night, but hopes to return sometime near the beginning of the season.
The cast has been removed from his wrist and he hopes to get some range of motion and pick up a basketball in the next few weeks
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) September 25, 2022
After opening on the road against the 76ers on Oct. 20, the Bucks return to Milwaukee for a six-game homestand with games against the Rockets, Nets, Knicks, Hawks and Pistons.
Khris Middleton career stats, highlights
- 17.1 points per game
- 4.9 rebounds per game
- 3.8 assists per game
- 1.2 steals per game
- 31.8 minutes per game
- 45.8 percent field goal shooting
- 39.2 percent 3-point field goal shooting
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