Last night’s showdown between the Bucks and Spurs carried a significant twist for fans: Khris Middleton is officially coming off the bench. Get ready, because this could be the new norm.
As game time approached, insider Chris Haynes dropped the bombshell that Middleton would no longer be a starter for the Bucks. It turned out to be true as Taurean Prince hit the court first, with Middleton taking a spot on the sidelines.
The Health Factor Behind Middleton’s Bench Role
According to Coach Doc Rivers, this decision is largely driven by Middleton’s health status. After undergoing surgery on both ankles during the offseason, Middleton is still feeling the effects and even missed a game against Toronto on January 6. Rivers has ordered him to scale back his workload, leading to the benching and a reduced playing time. In last night’s victory over San Antonio, Middleton clocked just 21 minutes on the court—fewer than Prince, Gary Trent Jr., and A.J. Green.
Eyes on the Future
It’ll be intriguing to see how Rivers adjusts Middleton’s playing time in the coming games, especially in close matchups as the season heats up.
“There are nights when he looks solid physically and other nights when he does not. His minutes vary based on how we need to manage his health. It’s tough for him.” – Doc Rivers
Familiar Role, Unfamiliar Challenges
The bench role isn’t entirely foreign to Middleton; he briefly filled it back in early December after returning from injury, with the initial goal of easing him back into game shape. However, the intended trajectory toward All-Star form seems far off right now.
Through 13 games this season, Middleton has logged an average of 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on under 44% shooting (38.5% from beyond the arc) in just 23.6 minutes per night. The big question looms: can the Bucks contend in the East with this version of Middleton? Our money says it’s going to be a tough road ahead…
Source: Chris Haynes, The Athletic