As the Milwaukee Bucks head into a crucial 2024-2025 season, they are missing one of their most important players. News broke on Monday that All-Star Khris Middleton will miss the team’s season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, and generally miss the start of this NBA season. Last season he averaged 15.1 points and 5.3 assists in 55 games.

ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report. Additionally, the insider noted that the Bucks are “cautiously moving” Middleton toward a return. The marksman did not appear during preseason and has not been cleared for 5-on-5 training.

This is concerning for Milwaukee because Middleton is crucial to its championship hopes. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are a dangerous two-headed monster at the helm of the Bucks, but Middleton’s ability to create space and operate as a secondary playmaker is what can separate Milwaukee from the rest. That’s why it’s much more important whether Middleton is healthy at the end of the season, when the playoffs begin.

He has dealt with numerous injuries since helping the Bucks win an NBA title in 2020-2021. Middleton played just 88 games combined over the past two seasons and underwent surgery on both of his ankles this season, which came as a surprise to the general public.

The Bucks are obviously bringing Middleton along slowly as he rehabs from those surgeries. But the more time the former All-Star misses, the more worrisome the situation becomes for Milwaukee. There is a lot to happen this year and it will be difficult to meet expectations without Middleton in the lineup. They’ll start the season doing just that.