Bucks Star Khris Middleton Makes Season Debut Against Lakers

Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will be making his much-awaited season debut on Friday.

Khris Middleton Makes His Return

After missing the Milwaukee Bucks’ first 20 games of the 2022-23 NBA season, All-Star small forward Khris Middleton is finally making his return. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Middleton “plans” to return to the court when the Bucks take on the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Middleton went through left wrist surgery during the offseason, forcing him to sit out at the start of the season.

Despite Khris Middleton’s absence, the Bucks have been excellent through 20 games. They are currently sporting a record of 15 wins against only 5 defeats, which is currently the second-best slate in the Eastern Conference (behind the Boston Celtics’ 18-4 record). They’re rallying behind their best player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is putting up a tremendous stat line of 31.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks per contest. Jrue Holiday has also been a consistent force on both ends of the floor, and veteran big man Brook Lopez is a frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year plum.

Still, Middleton’s return would be a welcome sight for the Bucks. Giannis needs any help he could receive, and there’s no doubt that Middleton is one of the best two-way forwards in the league. He is coming off a productive season last year, having averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. He would be a big help for the Bucks on both offense and defense, with big games against the Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Dallas Mavericks just around the corner. With Middleton around, plus the upcoming return of veteran forward Joe Ingles, the Bucks will be one of the favorites to win the championship this year.