Milwaukee Bucks injury updates on Giannis and Khris Middleton

by Junna Base November 8, 2024

Since he thinks Khris Middleton could play in one (or both) of the final two preseason games on October 14th and/or 17th^ThMilwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has avoided releasing public timelines for the three-time All-Star’s potential return.

He maintained that policy Wednesday afternoon after the Bucks held a practice session without Middleton before a series of back-to-back games against Utah on Thursday at Fiserv Forum and Friday in New York.

Asked if the Bucks are aiming for a week-to-week return rather than day-to-day, Rivers said: “I don’t know the answer to that. That’s a good question that I can’t answer.”

Rivers said Middleton could do a live five-on-five practice on game day if necessary. He said Middleton will play three-on-three before Thursday’s game against Utah.

“Everyone is different,” Rivers said of an individual’s healing process. “Khris has had a lot of injuries and surgeries, so it’s just not as quick as we thought and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

He added that the All-Star’s absence does not cause frustration.

“Obviously we want Khris to play, but Khris does all the work,” Rivers said. “He works his butt off. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for. So there is no frustration in him. You would like to be healthy. We knew before the season started that we had played two home games in the first 10 games. You could see it coming. We were hoping we’d be healthy, but we’re not and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Since joining the Bucks’ sideline on Jan. 29 of last season, Rivers has coached Middleton in 15 regular-season games. A game in which Middleton left in the first quarter, he suffered his first ankle injury that would require offseason surgery. Middleton played in all six of the Bucks’ playoff games, but suffered his second ankle injury during that series loss to Indiana, requiring surgery.

The trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Middleton played seven full regular season games together under Rivers last year.

Middleton also did not reveal a possible timetable for his return on Oct. 31 in Memphis.

“I feel good, but not good enough to play, that’s all,” he said last week. “That’s really all I can say at this point. And I’m just working on getting back on the court. I’m getting better every day, but I’m not good enough to play yet.”

Middleton’s slow progress toward a return is made even more apparent by the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo is also injured.

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes part in training

The two-time MVP tore his right adductor muscle during the Bucks’ loss to Cleveland on Nov. 2 and was ruled out for the Nov. 4 game against the Cavaliers after suffering a shooting injury at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Rivers said that will also be the case with Antetokounmpo on Thursday, as he will be able to participate in the walkthroughs and skeletal installations of the plans.

MarJon Beauchamp (no COVID illness) returned to training and Pat Connaughton (left adductor strain) was also able to participate.

While there’s never a good time for injuries – especially to two of a team’s best players – the struggling Bucks are heading into a five-games-in-seven-day stretch. Your next consecutive days off are November 14th and 15th.

The Bucks aren’t panicking after their 1-6 start

Thanks to six straight losses, Milwaukee is off to one of the worst starts in franchise history at 1-6. It’s been nearly a decade since the Bucks have ever lost six games in a row. The last time the Bucks lost seven straight games at any point was March 21-April 4, 2007.

“The record doesn’t kill the mood,” Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. said of the team’s mood. “You have to put more effort into the games, but the atmosphere is the atmosphere. Our mood is cool. We weren’t worried. Nobody pushes or anything. Games, especially the last two games, were very winnable. Obviously a few different game plans.” Things if we stay disciplined for a few tasks or get a rebound or get a stop or get a basket to go up four, we don’t turn the ball over, then maybe the game goes differently.

“But the mood is the mood, man. The mood is good. Just because the record is what it is doesn’t mean the mood is bad. We’re fine. Just keep going to Utah, man, and keep doing what you’re doing.”

The 1968-69 first team achieved a 1-6 record, the 1993-94 team achieved a 1-10 record and the 1974-75 team achieved a 1-11 record.

“This is a positive group,” Rivers claimed. “We believe we are a really good basketball team that has played poorly at times. You could say that we played well in the last two games and lost the games. This is a big picture thing.

“The concern is outside the building. I guarantee you that. There are none inside the building.”

Portis, like many of his teammates, acknowledged that going through that losing streak early in the year looks worse than having a losing streak in the middle of it.

“It’s just that we’re early and we’re 1-6 or 1-7, whatever our record is, so it looks crazy right now,” Portis said.

Chronicling Khris Middleton’s injury

February 6th: He injured his left ankle when Phoenix forward Kevin Durant slipped his foot under Middleton and the Bucks star landed on it. Middleton immediately left the game and Durant was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for the play. Middleton left Phoenix in a walking boot. He would miss the next 16 games to recover from the injury.

April 23rd: He injured his right ankle when he landed on the foot of Indiana Pacers player Pascal Siakam in the first quarter of Game 2 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series. Middleton slapped the court in obvious pain but did not miss any court time. In six games, he averaged 24.7 points on 48% shooting, along with 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He had a 42-point game and four double-doubles in the series while averaging over 38 minutes per game.

May: The left ankle was surgically repaired.

June: The right ankle was surgically repaired.

July: League sources said Middleton has already returned to court work.

September 30th: At the Bucks’ media day, Rivers felt Middleton looked good on the eve of training camp.

Oct. 8: Rivers hoped Middleton could play in one or both of the Bucks’ final preseason games.

Oct. 10: Rivers said Middleton played three-on-three and the team hopes he can move on to a full live practice to play a preseason game.

Oct. 22: The Bucks hold their final practice before the regular season begins. Middleton is not going and will later be ruled out for the regular season opener in Philadelphia. “If this was a playoff game, he would probably play. Or close to it,” Rivers said.

Oct. 30: Rivers said Middleton did “a lot” in a practice in Boston but didn’t actually play five-on-five. “I don’t have a schedule,” Rivers said.

Oct. 31: After completing post-shootaround training, Middleton spoke for the first time since Sept. 30. “I feel good, but not good enough to play, that’s all,” he said.

November 4th: Middleton completed a shootaround and then completed a long halfcourt session with coaches and teammates.