The Milwaukee Bucks miss Kevin Porter Jr.'s scoring, but his deflections were also a major part of the team's identity last season. Porter's defensive awareness generated countless more opportunities in 2025-26, something the new-look Bucks have not had. As they look to get back on the right track, the team needs Brayden Burries to make his mark defensively.
Lack of deflections is hurting the Bucks
Milwaukee wasn't a good defensive team last season, but they were at their best when disrupting the passing lanes and tallying deflections, which led to steals. Last year, they averaged 16.6 deflections per game. While not in the upper echelon of NBA teams, it helped. Porter did his part by averaging 3.7 per game, the second-most on the team. Without him, the Bucks' production has dipped.
The Bucks rank dead last in deflections per game this season with 13. In turn, they are also last in steals per contest at just 5.6—the next closest team is 6.3. They just haven't been pestering teams like they did last season. Part of that is due to Ryan Rollins taking a step back, but Porter's absence has also been lingering.
Someone needs to turn up the intensity, and Brayden Burries is a likely candidate.
Burries can help set the tone defensively
One of the reasons selecting Burries 10th overall in this past draft was a no-brainer was his defensive intensity. He flat-out hounded opponents during his lone season at Arizona, and it helped him tally 1.5 steals per game. The Milwaukee Bucks need him to replicate that same approach at this level, and the guard clearly has backing after Taylor Jenkins recently put him in the starting five.
Really, they don't have many other options. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. aren't known for stellar defense. Kyle Kuzma is so inconsistent it's hard to rely on him—don't be too surprised if Nate Ament works his way into his spot sometime soon. Myles Turner is also struggling to find his groove. If any of the current starters can set the tone defensively, it's Burries.
It's a lot to ask of Burries in his rookie year, but there's a reason the Milwaukee Bucks felt comfortable cutting Porter. They clearly think Burries is ready for the bright lights, and this is a golden opportunity for him to prove them right. He hasn't been perfect, but the upside is undeniable, and it all starts with his performance on defense.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google