The Milwaukee Bucks’ regular season opener went about as well as they could have hoped. Although they still have room for improvement, Damian Lillard lived up to the hype, making a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
Related: Milwaukee Bucks 118-117 Victory Over Philadelphia 76ers: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The fact that every player on the Bucks roster was healthy for the first game was another plus. The game was opened by three-time All-Star and franchise record holder for three-pointers made, Khris Middleton. He did not play in the second half and was only able to play for 16 minutes.
It turns out that although he recovers from a devastating knee injury he sustained in the 2022 playoffs against the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee is still working hard on him. The majority of the 2022–2023 NBA season was missed by him due to the injury and its consequences.
While he was able to play on Thursday, he will not be available for the Bucks’ next game on Sunday.
Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Adrian Griffin Says Khris Middleton Will Not Play Against the Atlanta Hawks
While the news may be met with dismay from Bucks fans, it is important to remember that Middleton had another knee procedure this offseason. He is not limited because of the original injury; he is limited because of the most recent procedure. Had he not had the procedure, he may not have been able to play at all this season.
Middleton was active in practice today, but the care of his right knee issue will prevent him from being ready on Sunday, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
As Griffin notes, the reason Middleton is being held out of Sunday’s game is because the Bucks have a quick turnaround and play again on Monday night in Miami. Middleton will be playing against the Heat on the second night of their back-to-back.
Khris Middleton Signed a Lucrative Contract with the Milwaukee Bucks This Past Offseason
This offseason, the Bucks did not add many new players via free agency. Instead, they re-signed their own players with the majority of their efforts. The most recent and significant of these, of course, was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s three-year contract deal, which he agreed to before the regular season began.
But before Giannis got extended, a lot of people thought that Middleton coming back to the Bucks was the biggest addition they could have made. To stay in Milwaukee, the three-time All-Star agreed to a $102 million three-year contract. His $40.3 million player option for the 2022–2023 season had already been declined.
Although some people thought Middleton would leave Milwaukee, it was obvious during the offseason that he would remain. This was especially clear when the owner group and front office invited just two players to the table to discuss who should be hired as the next head coach. Of course, Giannis was one. The other was Middleton.
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