On October 21, Beijing time, sources told ESPN that Milwaukee Bucks star Middleton is expected to miss the season opener against the 76ers. Because he's recovering from ankle surgery in the offseason, and the Bucks are cautiously pushing for Middleton's comeback.

Middleton didn't show up in the preseason and still hasn't been allowed to play in the team's 5-on-5 practice matches. He played 3-on-3 practice games for most of the preseason, but Bucks head coach Doc Rivers told reporters last weekend that Middleton's practice has been limited since Wednesday.

During the preseason in Middleton's absence, Prince has been filling in the starting lineup.

During a Feb. 7 game against the Phoenix Suns, Middleton landed on Durant's foot after a jumper, resulting in a sprained left ankle. Middleton then missed the next 16 games with an injury, which he described as the worst ankle sprain of his career, and he could not fully recover from it throughout the season.

Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game during the regular season and underwent surgery shortly after the season. His right ankle injury occurred in Game 2, the Bucks' first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. The injury prevented him from training for the playoffs, but he played with an injury and averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game to help the Bucks fight through the series with Antetokounmpo injured. He underwent surgery in June.

The 34-year-old Middleton has played just 88 regular-season games in the past two seasons due to a string of injuries. In April 2022, he sprained his knee during the Bucks' first-round playoff series before undergoing wrist surgery in the 2022 offseason.

In the summer of 2023, he underwent surgery on his right knee and was heavily restricted in playing time for much of the first half of the season.