The ESPN broadcast reported the news during the first quarter of last nights game
ESPN broke plenty of news last night about Milwaukee Bucks All-Star wing Khris Middleton. Things started pre-game, with Shams Charania reporting that Middleton had been cleared to play for a certain amount of time but doesn’t feel ready yet. Then midway through the first quarter during the broadcast, Katie George reported that Doc Rivers said that he expects Middleton to be available by next week.
According to Katie George of ESPN, during the #Bucks v. #Bulls game last night, Doc Rivers said he expects Khris Middleton to be available next week.
He did hedge the news by saying it’s still up to Middleton, but it could be a positive sign in the former All-Stars’ recovery. pic.twitter.com/uqdgzNLDq1
— Jackson Gross (@JGrossBucks) November 21, 2024
“Doc Rivers told us he expects Middleton to be available next week,” George said. “But he hedged by saying it’s ultimately up to Middleton and how his body feels. They [the Bucks] want him to feel his best before bringing him back.”
This was preceded by Doc’s comments pre-game, that he thought Middleton was close to returning, with him yet to play this season:
“He’s looked good,” Rivers said. “He’s working his butt off. Listen, I think he’s close. And he’s just going to keep working. This is the best I’ve seen him, I will say that.”
Middleton has been working his way back ever since he got surgery on both of his ankles in the off-season but has been primarily limited to 3-on-3 work since the pre-season. If the reporting from George is to be taken as gospel, that would put Middleton in line to make his debut at home after Thanksgiving against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 30. Although this is undoubtedly good news, keep in mind that the Bucks had some hope that he would play during the pre-season, but here we are 15 games into the season and he still hasn’t made his debut.
We will keep you updated as the news of Middleton’s status becomes more clear.