Right around the same time that Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons broke his foot, a much less heralded player also suffered a potentially season-ending injury. This player doesn’t merit wide-eyed comparisons to Magic Johnson and LeBron James. In his draft class, he wasn’t even picked in the first round (he was the No. 39 pick of the Detroit Piston in 2012). Nonetheless, he’s quietly put up some impressive numbers while playing for a small-market franchise. Any guesses?

Our mystery player is none other than James Khristian “Khris” Middleton. Unfortunately, while going through preseason workouts before the start of the 2016-2017 season, the Milwaukee Bucks swingman tore his left hamstring, a serious injury that required surgery and months of rehab.

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Why Does Middleton Matter?

During the 2015-2016 NBA season, Middleton averaged a career-high 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 79 games. For comparison's sake, prior to his season-ending Achilles injury, Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay was averaging 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

The kicker? Middleton is a career 40 percent three-point shooter and connects on a remarkable 87.3 percent of his free throws.

Each season of his young career, Khris Middleton has improved considerably. At just 25 years of age, he was primed for another terrific season. Before the emergence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the “Greek Freak,” many Milwaukee fans considered Middleton their best player. His contributions on both sides of the ball made a huge impact for the Bucks. By stretching the floor on offense, Middleton opened lanes for his teammates to cut to the basket. His court-vision created easy looks and his ability to put the ball in the basket was never in doubt. On defense, Middleton’s 6-foot-8 frame allowed for successful switches and his quick hands helped Milwaukee’s transition game.

Return of the Buck

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Milwaukee Bucks are "increasingly hopeful" that Middleton will suit up in early- to mid-February. There are rumors that he could return to the lineup just before the All-Star break during Milwaukee's three-game homestand.

Although he'll almost certainly be kept on a minutes restriction, Middleton might help push Milwaukee over the edge for playoff contention. With the Bucks (21-23) currently in ninth place in the Eastern conference standings, it stands to reason that Middleton's contributions could help Milwaukee leapfrog the Chicago Bulls (22-23) and the Indiana Pacers (22-22).

Already, prudent fantasy managers are taking out a position for Middleton's impending return. In ESPN leagues, interest in Middleton spiked by 10 percent to reach an overall ownership percentage of  17.7 percent.

Middleton's skill set, potential, and historical performance make him worthy of your consideration. You will need to monitor his minutes and performance in coach Jason Kidd's rotation, but Middleton could easily become an invaluable fantasy asset come playoffs.