The Bucks’ Khris Middleton is expected to make his season debut on Friday

When the Milwaukee Bucks started 2-8, part of their “keep calm and carry on” talk was that Khris Middleton would return at some point after offseason surgery on both ankles and that he would provide balance with the playmaking and shooting.

The Bucks have turned things around — they’re the No. 5 seed in the East with a record of 11-10 — and now Middleton is set to return this Friday, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports.

Middleton was previously medically cleared and prepared to return to the field. Middleton, a three-time All-Star and Olympian gold medalist, has battled injuries for several years and has appeared in a total of 88 games over the last two seasons. Last season, Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 38.1% from 3 in 55 games.

He’s not the player he was at his peak, but Middleton brings wing depth, a player who can run the pick-and-roll so Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard can handle the ball, and he brings the necessary ones Shots on the table.

Milwaukee could use him, and he returns in time for the NBA Cup, where the Bucks will host the Magic in the quarterfinals next Tuesday. If you win this game, Middleton and his teammates will travel to Las Vegas for the semifinals.