Milwaukee Bucks G Khris Middleton eyes return prior to All-Star break

Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton is making swift strides in his recovery from a hamstring injury and could return before next month's All-Star break.

Middleton ruptured his left hamstring in late September and underwent surgery. He recently began jogging and shooting and is making good progress but also is mindful that he needs to be cautious.

"A hamstring is definitely nothing to play with," Middleton recently told reporters. "There are chronic hamstring injuries where guys think it is fine and they go out there and try to run and pull it again. That's something I definitely don't want to go through."

The Bucks are a rising team behind star forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker and the biggest hole in the lineup this season has been shooting guard. Milwaukee badly has missed Middleton, who averaged 18.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals last season.

Middleton, who is in the second season of a five-year, $70 million contract, is expected to be on a minutes' limitation once he returns.

Middleton was originally a second-round pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2012. He was dealt to Milwaukee the following year in the trade that sent guard Brandon Jennings to the Pistons.

Middleton is averaging 13.6 points in 267 career NBA games.