If this current trends keep up, Kevin Porter Jr. might actually start for the Milwaukee Bucks.
A few short years ago, that would’ve been unthinkable. But after waiving Damian Lillard and failing to bring in a clear starting-caliber point guard, the Bucks are left with a vacuum that Porter has a shot to fill. It’s the biggest opportunity of his career, and if he capitalizes, it could go on to define his reputation and, eventually, Milwaukee’s entire ceiling this season.
After wrestling with a litany of injuries, waves of inconsistent play, and serious off-court issues, KPJ's path back to meaningful NBA minutes (let alone a consistent role) seemed closed. Most of the league had written him off, and at the time, they weren't exactly wrong to.
But the Bucks took a flier on Porter and bet on the clear upside, cheap salary, and a second-chance culture with structure around him. And now, after a series of unexpected dominoes, Porter might be next in line for the keys.
Kevin Porter Jr. could find himself starting for the Milwaukee Bucks
If the Milwaukee Bucks are done making moves around the point guard position (they did just sign Ryan Rollins to a three-year deal, after all), then this is where we are: Kevin Porter Jr. is their new starting point guard.
The case for him is real. Porter is a talented shot-creator who averaged 11.7 points, 3.9 boards, and 3.7 assists in 30 games for the Bucks after the trade deadline. His 49.3 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from deep prove he’s a three-level scorer who can get his own shot, which is something Milwaukee sorely lacked behind Lillard last season. He’s also flashed vision as a playmaker, even if his decision-making has been erratic at times.
The biggest thing is that with his speed and athleticism to boot, he fits next to Giannis Antetokounmpo like a glove. He can space the floor, attack closeouts, and take some pressure off as a secondary ball handler. He won’t need to be a floor general all the time, but he's more than capable of being a connector who can create advantages, run a few sets, and survive defensively.
He's long carried the reputation of being disengaged on the defensive side of the ball, but according to Cleaning the Glass, opposing offenses scored -3.4 fewer points per 100 possessions whenever Porter played. That was good for the 78th percentile among guards in defensive rating. While he's no savant at staying in front of his man, his active hands and dogged approach to defensive make him a consistent threat to get steals and force turnovers, as fans saw towards the end of the season.
So this is only to say that if Kevin fully buys in for an entire season, even at the simplest baseline level, he gives the Bucks a dynamic ball-handler with legitimate offensive juice at a time they badly need one.
Many expected Porter to walk in search of a bigger payday. Instead, he stayed with the Bucks for a bigger role -- potentially the biggest one he's had in his career.
This is not a no-risk bet. But it’s one few expected Porter to get. A real shot at a starting job on a contending team? After some time in exile, that’s a gift. Now it’s up to him to turn it into something more.