“We have unfinished business here in Milwaukee”– Khris Middleton said these same exact words in 2019. Since then he has delivered. A championship to boast about, Khris has been a Bucks favorite throughout the years. So one can expect a thunderous ovation for him when he steps into the Fiserv Forum after missing 21 games this season. But that has to wait. For now, he’ll be making his return behind the enemy lines as a new health update bolsters Doc Rivers’ morale. Probably it’s best to reflect on the tough situation that he resonated with Middleton.

“Anybody who wants to play, and Khris is one of those [guys], they’re frustrated,” the head coach said on Wednesday. “That’s mentally challenging.” Rivers empathized with the veteran forward and acknowledged the difficulty he must have faced in not being able to contribute during Milwaukee’s tough phase because of his slow recovery. “You see your team playing and although we’re playing well right now, I imagine when we were really struggling and he wasn’t playing that had to be really hard for him. You want to help your team, and he knows he can,” Rivers stated.

Middleton was spotted during Game 2 of the 2024 playoffs, after which he underwent surgeries on both ankles. He spent the entire offseason recovering, and just before the season opener, the franchise announced that he wasn’t yet fit enough to take on his responsibilities as he was still rehabbing. The Bucks didn’t want to take any risks with him and gave him the time he needed to recover. Rivers also didn’t seem concerned about him not suiting up. In fact, as reported by Yahoo Sports, he said, “If he doesn’t go [opening night], then we’ll wait until the next one. I’m really not concerned.”

The 33-year-old has been an integral part of the team for a decade. Even last season he provided crucial depth behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, averaging 15.1 points per game during the regular season for Milwaukee. Before sustaining the injury, the team heavily relied on him during the playoffs when the Greek Freak was sidelined. Now 7 months later, reports of his comeback have emerged following Doc Rivers’ disclosure.

Doc Rivers hopeful about Khris Middleton’s “soon” return

Middleton got a green signal from the medical team and has been attending practice. He reportedly participated in a 5-on-5 session on Wednesday morning, prior to the Bucks’ game against the Hawks. This certainly comes as good news for the franchise. And Rivers too expressed his satisfaction with having the veteran back in the squad.

“If it felt right, he’d be playing, obviously,” Rivers told the reporter when questions popped up about his return date. “There’s no answer. He’s working his butt off and doing all the stuff he’s supposed to do. He’s just yet to get on the floor. We feel like that’s coming soon.” Upon realizing that the “soon” word had often been repeated for Middleton, the head coach quickly added, “We’re just hopeful it’s really soon.”

While Rivers didn’t the exact date, ESPN’s Bobby Marks in his recent tweet. “Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will make his season debut Friday night at Boston,” the insider stated. So, this could be the moment for Middleton. He is expected to join the team on their two-game road trip, and winning the first game against the mighty Celtics would definitely make a huge statement.