The Milwaukee Bucks move Khris Middleton to the bench, according to Chris Haynes. Middleton, who missed the Bucks’ win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday due to ankle tendinitis, is still trying to recover from double ankle surgery during the offseason. The three-time All-Star should be available Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers met with Middleton on Sunday to explain the decision, according to Haynes, who comes as the team tries to find continuity with its starting lineup. Taurean Prince, who started in place of Middleton against the Raptors, will remain in the starting lineup.
Middleton, 33, has dealt with significant injury issues since the 2022 playoffs, when he sprained the MCL in his left knee. Since then, he has played in just 100 regular-season games and has undergone surgeries on his left wrist, right knee and both ankles.
Before the season, the Bucks insisted that Middleton had only undergone “normal off-season cleaning procedures” and he told The Athletic that “having a successful season means playing almost 82 games”. He continued: “Below 70, 75 games, no, I don’t consider that a successful season for me.”
But as key dates came and went — the preseason, opening night, the quarter-final of the season — Middleton was nowhere to be found, despite reports he had been “medically cleared” for some time. Finally, he made his season debut against the Boston Celtics on December 6.
Middleton came off the bench in his first five games before returning to the starting lineup in a win over the Washington Wizards. He largely put up good numbers as a starter, averaging 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists on 51.2% shooting from the field, including 45.5% from behind the bow.
So why move him to the bench?
Rotation management
The most obvious answer is that it makes rotations easier to manage with Middleton with a minutes restriction. He’s only crossed the 30-minute mark once this season and has generally hovered between 23 and 25 minutes. For Middleton to be able to start and end games under these conditions, it’s essentially impossible for him to play long stretches, which means more cuts and changes throughout the night. If Middleton comes off the bench, however, it is much easier for Rivers to chain rotations and keep him in a rhythm for the end of the match.
Bad record
It’s also worth noting that the Bucks are just 3-4 with Middleton in the starting lineup, with losses to the Brooklyn Nets (twice), Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers. Their main starting lineup of Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez and Andre Jackson Jr. has a net rating of minus-10.6 during this stretch, albeit in 31 minutes. It’s a small sample size, but early feedback from a group this old and lacking athleticism hasn’t been positive.
A surprising trend
Finally, there is a surprising trend to consider. Since Middleton’s first game on Dec. 6, the Bucks have really struggled when he’s on the court alongside Antetokounmpo and Lillard. During this period, 408 three-player formations spent at least 95 minutes together on the pitch. The Middleton-Antetokounmpo-Lillard combo is tied for 302nd with a net rating of minus-5.6 in 96 minutes.
This same group crushed opponents with a plus-17.5 net rating in 758 minutes last season, but most of those minutes came under Adrian Griffin, not Doc Rivers, and before Middleton underwent double surgery at the ankle.
The move will allow Lillard and Antetokounmpo to spend more minutes together while they are alone running the offense, as they were early in the season, while Middleton will take command of the second unit, which has sometimes been a source of problems for the Bucks.
