Bucks' Khris Middleton tests positive for covid-19

Milwaukee will be scratching their heads as the list of unavailable players grows.

Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton tests positive for covid-19

Unfortunately for the Milwaukee Bucks they will now have to do without without their star forward Khris Middleton, as he is the latest in a growing number of high profile athletes who have tested positive for covid-19. Speaking on the situation, coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed the player's status before Tuesday night's 117-89 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Initially Middleton was absent for Sunday's game against the Utah Jazz with what the team stated was a non covid-19 illness. Subsequent to that announcement he entered the NBA's health and safety protocols ahead of Tuesday's game. "We thought he just had a head cold or some type of non-covid illness," Budenholzer said. "And then, [he] didn't feel good again the next day. Got tested and has come back positive."

Middleton is the latest NBA player to test positive

With his positive test Middleton now joins 76ers forward Tobias Harris and Cavaliers forward Kevin Love as NBA players who have all tested positive for covid-19 since the beginning of the week. The NBA requires that any player who tests positive be sidelined for a minimum of 10 days. In light of this, it is possible that Middleton could be absent for the six games which would take him to next Friday's game against the Boston Celtics.

The Bucks can't catch a break

Middleton's absence is the latest in a growing list of roster problems for the Bucks. Only seven players have appeared in all seven of the team's games so far. Prior to the announcement about Middleton,  The Bucks were already missing Jrue Holiday due to a left ankle sprain and Brook Lopez, who is out with back soreness. Both players like Middleton are starters. Then there is Donte Divincenzo, their expected shooting guard for the next game who has not played since injuring his ankle in last year's playoffs. The good news, however, is that Holiday is making steady progress towards his return.

Holiday is on track to be the first to return among the group. He returned to practice recently, but the team is taking every precaution with him as he moves towards playing again. Speaking on the complicated selection scenario, Budenholzer didn't deny the difficulty. "We've been very, very fortunate, it feels like, for my three years here in Milwaukee to be very, very healthy," he said. "Yeah it's a challenge to figure out who's available, to get the best groupings out there and how we can get through a game. And not really wear down the guys that are healthy."