Bobby Portis is one of the best rotational players in the NBA today and won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
His career looked very different in 2017 after he punched Nikola Mirotic in practice, leaving the forward with a concussion and multiple facial fractures. Portis opened up on the fight on JJ Redick’s podcast.
“It was one of the situations where I and he got into a back and forth on the court. I score, he scores, I score, he scores. And he was like, ‘me me me.’ I didn’t like that and he ran up on me, pushed me, this and that. It was one of those things that was a life-learning lesson for me. Made me better as a person, and better as a basketball player as well. When I came back from the suspension, I really had to like show people what my worth was. It was a blessing in disguise for real. During the time, it definitely tarnished my name, tarnished my reputation, tarnished my image.”
Portis bounced around the NBA for a while, playing for 4 teams from February 2019 to October 2021. His final team was the Milwaukee Bucks, where he is integral to the contending team’s title hopes. Portis also revealed how he called Giannis Antetokounmpo to ensure he got a spot on the Bucks for the 2020-21 season.
Bobby Portis’ NBA Journey
The Nikola Mirotic incident could’ve cut Portis’ career short, but his talent and hard work ensured he stayed in the league. After being suspended for 8 games by the Bulls, he managed to stay for a while longer before the team traded him to the Washington Wizards in 2019. His being drafted by the Bulls in 2017 was a contentious move for him, given his fandom of the Miami Heat up until that point. After a half-season stint with the Wizards, Portis signed with the New York Knicks for 2019-20.
The Knicks didn’t exercise his team option after his only season with the team, which led to Portis joining the Bucks, where he’s been since. His career is looking very solid, and he signed a 4-year, $48.5 million extension to stay with the Bucks, which kicked in this season. He is averaging 14.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists this season and is in contention for Sixth Man of the Year.
Mirotic’s NBA journey was cut short after he chose to leave for FC Barcelona in Spain after the 2018-19 season, which he spent with the Bucks as well. Mirotic is the reigning EuroLeague MVP and has enjoyed massive success since returning to Europe.
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