The Milwaukee Bucks are among the hottest teams in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level, and many of the role players have stepped up in big spots. They are winners of their last seven games and have won nine of their last ten. On top of that, they went 4-0 in NBA Cup group play and are one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is set to get a huge piece back on the court as well. Reports indicate Khris Middleton will make his season debut against the Celtics on Friday.
Milwaukee Bucks Khris Middleton Set To Return
Khris Middleton has been sidelined for a while after undergoing surgery on both ankles. He was cleared to return on November 20th, but the team is being cautious. He and the team wanted him to ramp up and not play until he felt physically ready. Reports indicate he will make his season debut on Friday when the Bucks take on the defending champs. Middleton was a key piece for the team when they won the championship in 2021, where he averaged 23.6 points in the playoffs.
Injuries have been an issue for the three-time all-star since then. In the season after the championship, he only appeared in 33 games and had a career-worst shooting percentage. Last season, he was much more efficient but did not play many minutes and still only appeared in 55 games. It is unclear exactly what the 33-year-old player will be able to bring to the team, but they don’t need him to carry the scoring load. They simply need him to provide a spark off the bench or on nights when Giannis and Damian Lillard are struggling.
Season Outlook
The Milwaukee Bucks are back to being among the championship contenders. Cleveland and Boston are the clear favorites right now, but a hot regular-season start does not guarantee a championship. We’ve seen teams start out well but then fade down the stretch as players go through midseason slumps. The important thing is to make it to the postseason. Given the weakness of the conference, the Bucks should have no trouble securing a top six seed if they continue to play the way they are now.
Outside of the Celtics and Cavaliers, the Magic and Knicks are ahead of the Bucks currently but Milwaukee would be able to matchup well with either of those teams. It’s a long season. A team like the Milwaukee Bucks are simply trying to put themselves in a position to win a championship. They have gone all-in and want to maximize the championship window. If Khris Middleton can even be half the player he was four years ago, this team just got a little more dangerous.
