Heading into a contract year, Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. says he's feeling as good as ever after a season-ending injury last year.
Porter Jr. played just 38 games in 2025-26 before undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in March. The experience was unprecedented for him, but he is using it as fuel ahead of the new campaign.
"I feel like I'm the strongest I've been," he said. "I had a unique offseason. I've never been injured like that, never had surgeries in my life. So it was the first time for me, and I found an appreciation of the game a little deeper. My purpose has grown, and I think this is going to be the best year for me individually."
Motivated
Falling deeper in love with the game is one of the few reasons Porter Jr. is extra incentivized going into the new season.
Having exercised his $5.39 million player option to return to the Bucks for his second campaign with the franchise this summer, Porter Jr. will have a chip on his shoulder to impress and earn a new deal, be it in Milwaukee or elsewhere.
The 26-year-old averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game last season, building a strong rapport with former Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the short time he spent on the floor.
After his three years with the Houston Rockets, Porter Jr.—for various reasons—hasn't been able to find a home in the league. After averaging the second-most minutes of his career last year, he looks like a good fit as a Buck.
He was traded to Milwaukee midseason in 2024-25, then signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Bucks as a free agent the following offseason.
As the franchise enters the first of what will likely be a few rebuilding years in the post-Giannis era, Porter Jr. could continue cementing his place in the Bucks' future this season.
New Role
Porter Jr. started 36 of the 38 games he played under former head coach Doc Rivers last term. He earned the berth after starting just two of the 30 games that immediately followed his trade to Milwaukee.
However, in a new regime—now led by head coach Taylor Jenkins—Porter Jr. appears set for a new role.
In the Bucks' first two preseason games under Jenkins, Porter Jr. came off the bench to play 19 and 18 minutes, respectively.
He posted a line of 7 points, three rebounds, and four assists in the curtain-raiser — a loss to Minnesota on Oct. 5 — shooting a mere 1-for-6 from the field and 5-for-9 from the charity stripe.
In the second outing, a 105-90 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, Porter Jr. put up 6 points, four rebounds, and four assists — adding a pair of steals.
His shot still wasn't falling — another 1-for-6 display — but he improved at the line, going 4-for-6.
Porter Jr. emerged as a do-it-all guard for the Bucks last year, impacting games in many ways, including averaging 2.2 steals per game.
As a member of the second unit, he doesn't necessarily have to change what he does. He can still fill up the stat sheet as one of the chief playmakers off the bench.
However, Porter Jr. will need to be more efficient, as shot attempts are likely to remain down (compared to last year's 13.5 FGA per game), with Tyler Herro and Ryan Rollins requiring more volume to lead the way.