Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton is expected to miss Wednesday’s season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
The 33-year-old will be sidelined for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season as he recovers from a pair of ankle surgeries he had in the off-season.
The three-time All-Star did not appear in a pre-season game over the past few weeks, and has not been cleared to play in the team’s five-on-five practice scrimmages, per Charania.
On Feb. 6, Middleton sprained his left angle in a game against the Phoenix Suns. The small forward landed on Kevin Durant’s foot after a jump shot. He missed 16 games with the sprain, which he called one of the worst ankle sprains of his career.
Middleton also injured his right ankle during Game 2 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers.
He underwent surgery on his left ankle in May after Milwaukee’s season ended, and again on his right ankle in June.
Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 points and 5.3 assists during the 2023-24 regular season.
The Bucks visit the 76ers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.
