The end of the Damian Lillard era tasked the Milwaukee Bucks with determining a new starting point guard. To begin the season, that title will almost certainly fall to Kevin Porter Jr., who came off the bench with both the Bucks and Clippers last year but carved out a much more impactful role in Milwaukee. He impressed them enough to earn a two-year, $10.5 million contract in free agency, including a player option.
Now, the Bucks are giving him a chance he never had in Los Angeles, where it seemed as though his yearlong hiatus had taken his legs out from underneath him.
Bucks are giving Kevin Porter Jr. more responsibility, chance to shine
After a promising start to his career, domestic violence charges cost Porter the 2023-24 season. His reintroduction to the NBA with the Clippers got off to a rocky start. Backing up James Harden in Los Angeles, Porter graded out poorly on both ends of the floor. At the trade deadline, the Clippers flipped him to the Milwaukee Bucks for MarJon Beauchamp - pennies on the dollar.
In Milwaukee, Porter transformed his game. His shooting efficiency shot up, and he became a force on defense. By on-off rating, Porter was at his most effective since 2021-22. He still occupied a reserve role for Doc Rivers, but he made the most of his playing time. Per 36 minutes, he averaged 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 2.3 steals.
Porter would not start for most teams, but he is an obvious choice for the Bucks. Ryan Rollins is poised for a leap year but still needs time to grow as a scorer and playmaker. Cole Anthony's defensive questions make him a better fit off the bench.
Porter started on a rebuilding Rockets squad three seasons ago, but given everything that has come between, that feels like ancient history. The Bucks are giving him an opportunity, but they are also taking a risk.
One factor that suggests he can succeed as a starter is his increased usage down the stretch in 2024-25. While Porter continued coming off the bench when Lillard went out with a blood clot, his minutes average leapt to 25.3 per game over his final 12 contests. Bumped to the starting five in the Bucks' first-round finale in the playoffs, he averaged 30 minutes in the series and looked a lot more comfortable by Games 4 and 5.
If it takes him a few weeks to fully settle into the starting job, fans shouldn't panic. Between Los Angeles and Milwaukee, Porter started just four of 75 regular-season games. The Bucks aren't offering him a new role, per se, but it could take some getting used to.