The Milwaukee Bucks made a risky gamble in the NBA offseason of 2020 when they signed Bobby Portis to a two-year, $7.4 million contract.
At that point in time, Portis had been essentially a fringe rotation player who was starting to run out on the youth and potential that was keeping him in the NBA. He’s emerged as a key piece and unsurprisingly, the Bucks have every intention of retaining his talents in Wisconsin. According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer:
Bobby Portis seems destined to return to Milwaukee on a four-year deal north of $40 million.
Not had he failed to make a significant impact and carve out his niche in the league, but he had also had some off-court baggage, as well. Back in 2017 when Portis was still playing for the Chicago Bulls who drafted him, he got into an altercation with his then-teammate Nikola Mirotic in practice. The end result? Portis landed a punch on his fellow big man that sent the Spaniard to the hospital with a broken jaw.
While he eventually made good with Mirotic and was given another chance with the Bulls, he still struggled to earn his keep on the court. He was eventually traded to the Washington Wizards along with Jabari Parker and a second-round pick in return for Otto Porter Jr.
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In the nation’s capital, he started to show signs of becoming the quality support piece that he is now. The New York Knicks felt compelled to offer him $15 million on a one-year, “prove it” deal.
With the Knicks, on a roster brimming with depth at the power forward position, he failed to rise above the others and both his efficiency and production came back to Earth compared to his short stint with the Wizards.
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Needless to say, the Knicks let him walk that summer and that’s how he wound up with the Milwaukee Bucks and turned his career around again. Through two seasons with Milwaukee, in which he played a pivotal part in their 2021 NBA Championship, Portis has established himself as one of the most valuable role players in the league.