Report: Middleton to miss Bucks' season opener vs. 76ers

Milwaukee Bucks wing Khris Middleton isn't expected to play in Wednesday's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Middleton will miss the game while recovering from offseason arthroscopic procedures on both ankles. The veteran missed 16 consecutive contests after spraining his left ankle against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 6 before injuring his right ankle during Milwaukee's playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said earlier in October that he expected Middleton, who missed all of preseason, to be ready for the start of the new campaign. However, Milwaukee is reportedly being cautious regarding the 33-year-old's return.

Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds over his last two seasons, but injuries restricted him to just 88 appearances throughout that time. While recovering from wrist surgery in the 2022 offseason, he missed the first 20 games of the 2022-23 campaign before a knee issue sidelined him for 18 matchups across December and January. He also underwent surgery in the summer of 2023 to address the knee problem.