The Milwaukee Bucks kicked off the 2025-26 NBA season with a completely healthy roster. It did not even last one quarter. Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. exited in the first quarter after suffering an ankle sprain. The play came after Porter stepped on Bobby Portis's foot and fell to the ground. Soon after, he was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Bucks' greatest enemy has already made an appearance
Milwaukee just cannot catch a break. Injuries have been a significant storyline for this team over the last several years. Whether it's Khris Middleton spraining his MCL, Damian Lillard tearing his Achilles, or Giannis Antetokounmpo suffering a soleus strain, injuries have beaten this team into the dirt on multiple occasions. It was a breath of fresh air that they were finally fully healthy for a change.
Of course, an ankle sprain isn't the end of the world, especially considering that Porter was able to get up and walk back to the locker room. There is a chance he will miss time, but it shouldn't be an indefinite absence if he does have to sit. Still, it's just brutal that Milwaukee's good health didn't even last 12 minutes. Now, they wait to hear the severity.
What makes it more frustrating is that Porter was having a great game. In nine minutes, he was up to 10 points, two assists, and a steal on 3-of-5 shooting. Two of those makes came from downtown, and the other was a rim-shaking dunk. Milwaukee's new starting point guard knew he had to set the tone, and he certainly delivered before his early exit.
In Porter's absence, Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony got some extended time. Rollins looked solid on the defensive end, playing stout defense every possession. The offense was shaky, but he still made his presence felt with seven points and two assists. Anthony had a much more challenging time on defense, logging three fouls in two minutes. Concerns about his defense were quickly validated.
Even without Porter, the Milwaukee Bucks managed to go up by 19 points against the Wizards at the half. They were firing on all cylinders by running the floor in transition, making extra passes for triple tries, and playing strong defense. It's everything the team made clear they wanted to do throughout the summer. Now, it's all about sustaining this momentum and building on it.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.