With Giannis Antetokounmpo likely to take on a significant chunk of the ball-handling duties for the Milwaukee Bucks this coming season, he needs adequate shooting around him. Likely to start at the point guard spot with Damian Lillard gone, Kevin Porter Jr. must be a consistent shooter, especially in catch-and-shoot situations, where he's excelled before.
Kevin Porter Jr. must be a reliable catch-and-shoot threat
It's no surprise that the catch-and-shoot specialists placed around Giannis Antetokounmpo typically tend to get a nice payday the following season. Bryn Forbes. Malik Beasley. Soon to be AJ Green (hopefully). It's because those players tend to have some of the best shooting seasons of their careers due to how many open looks they get from Giannis.
Porter certainly won't be out there just for his shooting, but if he can thrive in that regard, it could improve his performance - and fit with Giannis - dramatically.
During the 2021-22 season, Porter shot 55-of-114 (48.2 percent) on catch-and-shoot 3-point looks. Among players to attempt at least 114 catch-and-shoot triple tries, that was the most efficient mark in the NBA. However, this past season, that number dropped significantly, to a brutal 30.8 percent, among the 30 worst percentages in the league among players to attempt at least 65 tries.
It must be noted that a lot of that poor shooting came with the Clippers, where he went 23.7 percent on these catch-and-shoot looks. In Milwaukee, he regained some rhythm and reached 40.7 percent, although the sample size was small. That's the blueprint right there. In the few games he was in town, the guard benefited from playing with Giannis, and he must build on that.
Porter's role will revolve around being a go-to scorer and shot-creator who can alleviate pressure off of Giannis, but there will be plenty of times when the Greek Freak is controlling the offense. When the defenses collapse on him, Porter will be wide open on the perimeter, getting a good look courtesy of a Giannis pass. If he can knock it down like it's 2021-22, his impact would go through the roof.
Porter, who can enter free agency again next summer if he desires after re-signing with the Bucks a few weeks ago, can set himself up for a nice payday if he turns back the clock in this regard. He isn't quite penciled in as the starting point guard just yet, but the job is his to lose right now. He could be the perfect fit for this more athletic, fast-paced lineup if he knocks in his catch-and-shoot tries.
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