We talk a lot about Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard or even Paul George, but Khris Middleton is also a regular in the infirmary. Over the last two seasons, the Bucks winger has only played 76 matches. It's not even a full season, and it's been five years since he last exceeded the mark of 70 games in a season. This is why his priority is to play, and to play a lot.
“A successful season is a season of around 82 matches” he says to The Athletic. “You have to be aware that there may be a few matches where you can't play because of a crutch on your thigh or something like a bad sprained ankle. For this kind of thing, we miss one or two matches. But there is no question of only playing 60 matches. Below 70 or 75 matches, no, I don't consider it a successful season for me. »
“Wrong place, wrong time”
At 33 years old, and while he has a “ player option » at the end of the season, Middleton wants to prove that he is not finished, and that he is even capable of returning to his best level. “When we say that we are prone to injuries, it depends on how we take care of our body”continues Middleton. “And I take great pride in taking care of my body since the first day I’ve been here. So, no, I don't think I'm injury prone at all. I just had some unfortunate incidents that happened on the field, which is the type of thing that happens at the wrong place and at the wrong time. »
A problem of adaptation last season
Having undergone surgery on both ankles this summer, Middleton is still not allowed to play again, and he had time to look into the Bucks' problems last season. Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Pacers, Milwaukee poorly digested the arrival of Damian Lillard, and the two changes of coach.
“Last year we had some issues with guys trying to run in the same spot because that's what they're used to. And it happens. It's natural. It's human nature.” he confides. “This year we have to get into good habits of the fact that there are five places to occupy so that everything works naturally around us and that the guys have space to act and do what they have to do . »
Player option : possibility for a player to activate (or not) the last year of his contract, in order to end his lease or become a “free agent” one year in advance.
