The Milwaukee Bucks' duo of Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. has been among the best in the league at forcing deflections this year, showcasing active hands at the point of attack and a knack for disrupting passing lanes. For a team that's been searching for its defensive identity without two-way superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's been a major boost.
Defensive breakout giving Bucks some optimism
In the midst of a season that's been largely disappointing for Bucks fans, the development of Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. has been a bright spot and cause for some optimism moving forward. Both players have shown plenty of growth on the offensive end of the floor, but their defensive intensity has been an underrated aspect of their games through the first quarter of the season.
After Kevin Porter Jr. went down with an ankle injury in the first few minutes of the Bucks' season opener against the Wizards, Ryan Rollins began to hit his stride in the weeks that followed as the team's starting point guard while Porter rehabbed. During that stretch, Rollins proved his two-way prowess with exceptional scoring and playmaking while consistently disrupting opposing ball handlers on the other end of the court.
That contagious defensive intensity carried over once Porter returned from injury, as both backcourt mates have continued to put pressure on opposing defenses together. Ryan Rollins' five deflections per contest currently ranks second in the NBA behind Atlanta's Dyson Daniels, while Kevin Porter Jr.'s 4.5 deflections in just eight games places him sixth behind Cason Wallace, Ausar Thompson, and Matisse Thybulle.
For Porter, that small sample includes multiple games he left early for injury. Per 36 minutes, Rollins and Porter Jr. average 5.7 and 5.5 deflections, respectively.
Setting the tone defensively, Rollins and KPJ have helped buoy this Bucks team to a top-ten ranking in both deflections and points off turnovers, despite already missing Giannis for stretches.
With Porter's 6-foot-9 wingspan and Rollins' measuring in at nearly 6-foot-10, both players have above-average length for the guard position, and they've learned to use it effectively to their advantage this season. Perhaps their offseason work and film study with Rajon Rondo, who has similar measurables as a four-time All-Defensive guard, paid off for the young duo.
Deflections are great, but steals are better. Luckily, they are highly correlated with one another. Kevin Porter Jr. is tied for second league-wide with 2.3 steals per game. Ryan Rollins' 1.6 steals are also a strong mark over a larger sample of play. Despite their contributions, the Bucks still rank in the bottom 10 in steals per game in the Association, but that doesn't tell the whole story.
While deflections don't always result in steals in the box score, they can often affect the game in other ways. A deflected ball can force the opponent to reset their offense, using up more of the shot clock in a given possession. Active hands can also alter passing angles, causing shooters to catch the ball out of rhythm or opposing players to throw the ball away. Effective ball pressure can even sway the momentum of a game entirely.
Rollins and Porter's defensive intensity hasn't translated to Milwaukee having a formidable defense this season. Much of that has to do with a lack of big wings on the roster to help secure defensive boards and finish possessions, as well as inconsistent rim protection in the middle. However, the Bucks certainly have something to build on between the two young guards looking toward the future.
Rollins' three-year, $12 million contract he signed in the offseason is extremely team-friendly, and while Porter will likely decline his player option following this season if he continues to play well, Milwaukee will have his early bird rights in time for the 2026 offseason. This means they can re-sign him even if they are over the salary cap for an annual sum that makes sense for both parties.
With the albatross of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors hanging over the team, much of what lies ahead remains uncertain for now. The emergence of both Rollins and Porter as legitimate two-way impact players, though, at least offers some hope for a future with or without Milwaukee's franchise icon.