Bucks’ Khris Middleton Targeting Friday vs. Lakers for Season Debut

Bucks forward Khris Middleton is targeting Friday’s home game vs. the Lakers as his return from injury and season debut, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Middleton has yet to play this season after undergoing wrist surgery over the summer.

Last week Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters that Middleton “has been making progress, probably steady and slow. We’ll just continue to see how he feels.”

Middleton, 31, is 6-foot-7 and a three-time All-Star, and widely viewed as the Bucks’ second-best player behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. He missed the Bucks’ second-round playoff series against the Celtics with the injury. 

Along with some run at Bucks practice, he has been joining the Wisconsin Herd of the G League for additional workouts.

Last season, he averaged 20.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 66 games, shooting 44 percent from the field. He has averaged at least 20 points in each of the past three seasons.

Originally selected by the Pistons in the second round of the 2012 draft, Middleton has spent all but the first year of his career with the Bucks.