Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Bobby Portis will miss time with an MCL sprain in his right knee, league sources told The Athletic on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Portis, 27, exited Monday’s game against the Pistons with a knee issue and was ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets.
- He is averaging a near-career-high 14.4 points (49.9 percent shooting) and a career-high 10.1 rebounds in 26.8 minutes across 47 games this season (14 starts).
- Portis has emerged as a top Sixth Man of the Year candidate, helping Milwaukee to third place in the Eastern Conference.
Portis is now listed as OUT for Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets.
If you missed the play where he sprained his right knee, here was the replay from @BallySportWI. pic.twitter.com/qKigG1jklp
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) January 25, 2023
Backstory
Portis agreed to a four-year, $49 million contract (player option for the fourth year) to remain with the Bucks last offseason. He declined his $4.55 million player option and entered free agency after averaging career highs of 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in 72 games last season.
How important has Portis been this year?
Portis found his NBA home when he joined the Bucks in 2020. Before coming to Milwaukee, many considered him a player capable of putting up big numbers while not impacting winning, but Portis silenced the critics by contributing to a championship run in 2021. This season, Portis put together a start to the season worthy of consideration for Sixth Man of the Year. He is one of 11 players averaging a double-double on the season and the only player to do so off the bench. — Nehm
Does Milwaukee need to make a move to replace him?
The Bucks have struggled with injuries throughout this season, but their centers had been incredibly healthy before this injury. Portis has played in all 47 of the Bucks’ games this season, while Brook Lopez only missed one game. They were so healthy that the Bucks’ fourth big man Serge Ibaka got frustrated with his role and mutually agreed with the Bucks to stay away from the team as they tried to find him a new team. Now, with Portis out for some time, the Bucks may have to consider looking for a new big man to help fill the role. — Nehm
Required reading
(Photo: Brett Davis / USA Today)
