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When the Milwaukee Bucks faced a rough start at 2-8, they remained confident in their ability to bounce back. One key factor in their turnaround was the impending return of Khris Middleton, who had undergone surgery on both ankles during the offseason. Middleton's versatile playmaking and shooting were seen as crucial in restoring balance to the team.

The Bucks have turned things around — they sit as the No. 5 seed in the East with an 11-10 record — and now Middleton is about to make his return this Friday, reports Bobby Marks of ESPN.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will make his season debut Friday night at Boston, sources tell ESPN.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 5, 2024

Middleton has previously been medically cleared

and was ramping up for a return to the court. Middleton, a three-time All-Star and gold medal-winning Olympian, has battled injuries for a few years, appearing in 88 games total across the past two seasons. Last season, in 55 games, Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 assists a game, shooting 38.1% from 3.

He is not the player he was at his peak, but Middleton brings wing depth, a player who can run the pick-and-roll so that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard can work off the ball, and he brings needed shooting to the table.

Milwaukee could use him, and he returns just in time for the NBA Cup, where the Bucks will host the Magic next Tuesday in a quarterfinal matchup. Win that game and Middleton, along with his teammates, will be off to Las Vegas for the semi-finals.