In the Bucks’ 123-113 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee notched its first back-to-back set of wins since October. Kevin Porter Jr. delivered perhaps one of his most balanced performances of the season with a 15-point, 11-assist double-double. With Giannis back from injury, is this what we can expect from Porter moving forward? It could be.
Kevin Porter Jr's maturity could take his game to the next level
Porter, for better or worse, has been the offensive engine in Giannis’ absence so far this season. He is averaging 18.8 points and 7.6 assists per game. His high turnover rate (3.5 per game) is the only thing fans have been able to scowl at. In this game, Porter had just one turnover in 38 minutes. It appears that the added spacing Giannis provides could open up room for Porter to be more efficient and less volatile with the ball.
What makes his presence especially valuable is his versatility. Porter can play both on and off the ball. In times where Giannis is out of the game (more so than normal at the moment, with him on a minutes restriction), Porter can be the primary creator. His efficient shooting (42.5 percent from long range) allows him to play off-ball and not clog the paint when Giannis is in the game and to attack closeouts as the defense shifts.
This recent double-digit assists game could show a maturation in decision-making. The knock on Porter's game has been that he tends to try to do too much on his own. With the added gravity provided by Giannis, Porter may finally be able to settle in and run the offense with a more pure point guard style of play. Allowing him to focus on finding teammates, taking care of the ball, and providing a scoring punch when things break down.
As this team attempts to claw its way back into the playoff picture, it needs a consistent second option. Porter has proven that he can score, but for Milwaukee to become a playoff-caliber team and beyond, they need to be able to trust their lead guard to make the right decisions when the games get more difficult.
With this Bucks team in a deep hole in the standings, they will lean heavily on Porter to play like a star. The opportunity for KPJ to become a legit second fiddle to Giannis is right in front of him; if he can make games like Monday night the new norm, the sky is the limit. Bucks fans knew he could take a step forward, but his numbers this season have surpassed even that.