The Milwaukee Bucks could not have predicted just how important Bobby Portis would become for the team when they signed him last offseason.
While Portis was somewhat of a household name, he had bounced around the league in previous seasons and was initially glossed over among the moves made by the Bucks. Well, it seems safe to say that Portis truly defied any and all expectations during his first year in Milwaukee. The big man gave it his all each and every night to help the Bucks ultimately reach their goal of becoming NBA champions, which helped him carve out a spot as a fan favorite. Before all of that transpired, Portis was given these three goals before the season.
Revisiting Bobby Portis’ 2020-21 goals with the Milwaukee Bucks: No. 1 – Provide a scoring punch off the bench
Before Portis took the court with the Bucks, they knew he would hypothetically bring scoring to the table. The big man had averaged double-digit points in the previous three years, and with the team losing several key pieces in the second unit during the offseason, they would need someone to give them consistent production on the offensive end.
Portis ultimately hit on this goal by averaging 11.4 points per game during the regular season. He did it with incredible efficiency as well, shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 47.1 percent from behind the arc. Both of those percentages were career-highs for the six-year veteran, which gave the Bucks a much-needed scoring punch with someone they could depend on. While Portis was a solid 3-point shooter coming in, he took it to the next level with the Bucks and looked like an elite shooter, which certainly helped him fit in with this team.
His 11.4 points were the most by any reserve on the roster, and more than starting shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo. As the team’s fifth-leading scorer during the regular season, Portis took off and never looked back after finding a groove.
Although his scoring and efficiency took a massive dip in the postseason, Portis still proved to be a vital piece for the Bucks from start to finish this season. He was tailor-made to play this role off the bench, and fans can rejoice knowing that Portis will be back with the team for the foreseeable future. Hopefully he can pick up right where he left off when next season begins and give the team similar production as they take aim on defending their title.