Sources – Bucks' Khris Middleton is expected to miss the season opener

Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton is expected to miss Wednesday's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The three-time All-Star will miss the start of the NBA season as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, and the Bucks are cautiously developing Middleton toward a return, sources told ESPN.

Middleton did not appear in a preseason game and still has not been cleared to participate in the team's 5-on-5 drills in practice. He had participated in 3-on-3 contests for most of the preseason, but Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters over the weekend that Middleton had been able to practice on a limited basis since Wednesday.

Taurean Prince has filled in as the starting XI during pre-season in Middleton's absence.

Middleton sprained his left ankle in a game against the Phoenix Suns on February 6 after landing on Kevin Durant's foot following a jump shot. Middleton then missed the next 16 games due to the injury, which he described as the worst ankle sprain of his career; it lasted the entire season.

Middleton, who averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 points and 5.3 assists during the regular season, underwent surgery shortly after Milwaukee's season ended in May.

The right ankle injury occurred during Game 2 of the Bucks' first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. The injury prevented him from practicing during the playoffs, but he played through it and averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists, helping Milwaukee contend in the series without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo. He had surgery on it in June.

The 34-year-old Middleton appeared in just 88 regular-season games over the past two seasons due to several lingering injuries. In April 2022, he sprained his knee during the Bucks' first-round playoff series and then underwent wrist surgery in the 2022 offseason.

He underwent surgery on his right knee in the summer of 2023 and was placed on a strict minutes restriction for most of the first half of the season.

ESPN's Jamal Collier contributed to this report.