Sometimes, a change of scenery can do a player a lot of good in today's NBA, which is exactly what has happened with Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr.
Since coming over from the LA Clippers at the NBA Trade Deadline, Porter has been a mainstay in the team's rotation, serving as a vital sixth man most nights. He's quickly found his footing, and one of his new teammates had nothing but praise for the energetic combo guard after Milwaukee's latest game, a double-digit comeback win against the Sacramento Kings.
"He makes such a huge difference for us," said Brook Lopez. "So happy to have him here to be able to come off the bench and just do what he does pretty much night in and night out. It's so impressive, and it makes all the difference in the world for us. It's going to be so big for us in the playoffs."
Kevin Porter Jr.'s importance with the Bucks only keeps growing
Lopez's comments were well-deserved after that game Porter just had. Against the Kings, he put up 18 points, six assists and three rebounds. What truly stood out was his efficiency, as the young guard sunk eight of his ten shot attempts. He was particularly efficient in the final frame, knocking down all four of his shot attempts, including a big-time 3-pointer to put the Milwaukee Bucks on top.
With Damian Lillard sidelined due to calf soreness, the Bucks needed someone to pick up the slack in the scoring department, and Kevin Porter Jr. answered the call. It's unclear just how troublesome this injury is for Lillard, but if he has to miss more time, the Milwaukee Bucks will continue to lean on their newcomer to fill the void in the backcourt for the time being.
This contest, one of his best with the Bucks to date, comes in the midst of a strong showing with the team in March. This month, Porter is averaging 10.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while hitting 50.6 percent from the floor and 51.7 percent from 3-point range. That type of second-unit production has been just what the doctor ordered, especially with Bobby Portis still out of the mix.
As Brook Lopez alluded to, Porter should be a huge piece for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch and into the NBA Playoffs. Having another shot-creator and capable floor general will take significant loads of pressure off of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, ensuring that they will not have to shoulder the workload every single trip down the floor. In tight games, that will be a huge bonus.
If Porter keeps this up, this trade could go down as one of the biggest fleeces the Milwaukee Bucks have pulled off in a very long time.
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