Even though the Milwaukee Bucks were undermanned for most of the season, they still managed to finish the year with the best record in the league.
That speaks volumes of how good of a job coach Mike Budenholzer had done and how much the rest of the guys stepped up to pick up the slack for Khris Middleton’s injury.
Fortunately for them and new coach Adrian Griffin, Middleton underwent successful surgery on his right knee to fix that ailment that kept him on and off the court last season, according to a report by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sources: Bucks star Khris Middleton underwent a successful surgery on his right knee shortly after the playoffs to address an issue that plagued him this past season.
Details on the procedure and recovery at @TheAthletic with @eric_nehm: https://t.co/x43IBIZOgk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 8, 2023
Middleton was the second-most important guy for the Bucks in recent times, stepping up as a versatile defender, secondary playmaker, and go-to guy offensively when Giannis Antetokounmpo was out or double-teamed.
He’s played a vital role in the team’s success, and they need him at his best to continue being contenders out of the Eastern Conference.
Middleton slowly worked his way back to the court and ramped things up ahead of the playoffs, but he was never able to reach his usual level, whether it was starting or coming off the bench.
The Bucks will now have to make a financial decision about him and his future.
He can opt out of the final year of his contract and test free agency waters, and the Bucks will most likely have to pay up to keep him around.
And while that might not he the wisest decision at this point in his career and coming off a knee injury, they cannot afford to make Giannis mad.
NEXT: NBA Insider Details Why The Bucks Hired Adrian Griffin