There’s no easy way to say it: Bobby Portis has gone from a fan favorite to a glaring liability for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The player once celebrated for his energy, hustle and ability to ignite the team on both ends of the floor is now a shadow of his former self, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that his decline is more than just a typical slump.
Through the first portion of the season, Portis’ struggles have been hard to ignore. His shooting efficiency is down, particularly from beyond the arc, where he’s hitting just 32.4 percent—a steep drop from his 40.7 percent shooting clip just a year ago.
His defense, always a weak point, has gone from passable with enough energy to downright unplayable in certain matchups. Opponents target him relentlessly in pick-and-rolls, and his inability to switch onto quicker guards or contest at the rim has made him a defensive sieve.
None of these are new issues. He's always been a bit of a streaky shooter, and his defense has always been relatively undisciplined, even if he puts in effort. But this season, his overall impact on the court (or lack thereof) has made him close to unplayable.
According to PBP Stats, the Bucks have a net rating of -7.45 in the 492 minutes that Portis has played this season. In the 569 minutes with him on the bench, the Bucks were a +6.81.
And, per Cleaning the Glass, Milwaukee is giving up 6.4 more points on defense and scoring 4.3 fewer points on offense whenever Portis plays. He's in the 14th and 23rd percentiles in those stats for his position.
As a team, the Milwaukee Bucks' effective field goal percentage also decreases by -4.2 percentage points whenever Portis is on the floor, even if they do pull down 2.2 percent more offensive rebounds in those minutes.
Bobby Portis has had his chances, but the Bucks officially have a problem
Portis has had his chances to right the ship. Coach Doc Rivers has stuck with him in the rotation, hoping his veteran presence and championship experience would shine through. But as the Bucks’ record oscillates and their bench continues to be outplayed by contenders like Boston and Cleveland, patience is wearing thin.
Perhaps most concerning is the lack of impact Bobby Portis has on the boards, an area where he once thrived. While he still grabs his share of rebounds, they often feel hollow—padding his box score without leading to meaningful stops or second-chance points. His offensive game, once a reliable mix of post-ups, mid-range jumpers and spot-up threes, has devolved into inefficient, low-percentage looks that bog down the offense.
The real issue is that Bobby Portis' decline doesn’t just hurt the Bucks in the short term—it also impacts their long-term roster flexibility.
Portis is in the third year of a four-year, $48 million deal with a player option for next season, making him one of Milwaukee’s more significant financial commitments outside of their superstar duo. For a team strapped for cap space, carrying an underperforming player on that kind of contract is a luxury they can’t afford.
What’s even more frustrating is the missed opportunities Portis' minutes represent. The Bucks have promising young players—Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith and even fringe contributors like Liam Robbins—who could benefit from more consistent playing time. Yet, as long as Portis remains a rotation staple, those minutes are hard to come by.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Portis still has flashes of the player who became a fan favorite during the Bucks’ 2021 championship run. His energy, charisma and ability to galvanize a crowd are still there, and in the right role—perhaps with a fresh start on a different team—he could rediscover his groove.
But for Milwaukee, the writing is on the wall: it’s time to seriously consider moving on.
Trading Bobby Portis won’t be easy, but it might be necessary. His contract, while hefty, is still movable, especially to teams looking for a veteran big who can stretch the floor and provide instant offense.
Milwaukee could look to package him with a future pick or attach him in a deal to address their glaring frontcourt issues. It's not like there aren't other options to consider: Larry Nance Jr. and Robert Williams III should be easy to acquire with the right package and could, in theory, help this team's problems.
The Bucks are in win-now mode, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard forming one of the league’s most dangerous duos. They can’t afford to let loyalty or nostalgia stand in the way of maximizing their championship window. If Bobby Portis can’t deliver on the court, the Bucks owe it to themselves—and to Giannis and Dame—to find someone who can.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for a player who’s meant so much to the team and the city. But the Milwaukee Bucks officially have a Bobby Portis problem, and it’s one they can’t ignore any longer.
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