Kevin Porter Jr. came to Milwaukee thinking he'd be a bench scorer, maybe get some easy buckets in a reduced role behind Damian Lillard. Microwave scoring has been the name of his game ever since he entered the association, after all, and why would this juncture be any different?
Yet, suddenly he's staring at a starting spot and a completely different job description that could make or break his NBA future. And everything depends on whether or not he can master one skill: playing defense on the league's best point guards.
The math is pretty straightforward here: if KPJ starts for the Bucks, his offensive numbers become secondary. Milwaukee doesn't need another 20-point scorer when they have Giannis Antetokounmpo and a boatload of long-range bombers around him. But what they do need is someone who can guard the other team's best perimeter player while Giannis roams free on defense.
It's time for Kevin Porter Jr. to go all-in on his defensive evolution
It's not the role Porter signed up for, but it's the one that's going to determine whether he sticks around past this season. Milwaukee's title hopes don't hinge on KPJ's scoring ability; they depend on whether he can become the kind of two-way player who doesn't get hunted in the playoffs.
None of this is to say that he's currently a bad defender. The exact opposite of that is true. According to Cleaning the Glass, opposing teams scored 3.4 fewer points per 100 possessions with Porter on the floor, ranking him in the 78th percentile among guards defensively. He’s not exactly a lockdown specialist, but his quick hands and relentless energy make him a constant threat to generate steals and disrupt possessions, something Milwaukee Bucks fans saw flashes of late last season.
So the sample is there, and so is the evidence. All that's left is stringing together enough consistent outings. Because if he starts, the Bucks will need him playing top-notch defense. Not just effort, not just occasional steals. They need legitimate, possession-by-possession lockdown defense against guys like Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brunson. They need the kind of defense that requires complete buy-in and zero ego.
Porter's got the physical tools to do it. He's 6-foot-4 with decent length and quick feet. The question is whether he's willing to make that his identity, rather than trying to prove he's still the guy who averaged 16 points a game in Houston.
The opportunity is massive if he embraces it. Starting guards who can defend at an elite level while contributing 12-15 points efficiently get paid serious money in this league. Look at what Jrue Holiday got after proving he could be that guy for Milwaukee.
However, if Porter continues to force shots and gamble on defense, trying to generate offense, this entire experiment will quickly fall apart. Doc Rivers doesn't have the patience for players who hurt the team's championship chances, regardless of their talent level.
This is KPJ's last real shot to establish himself as more than just a reclamation project. His offense is already recognized as a possible X-factor for this team. The role of point-of-attack pest might not be glamorous, but it's the one that could save his career.