Bobby Portis exceeded expectations in the 2021-22 NBA season.
While the Milwaukee Bucks’ title defense ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs, Portis gave fans plenty to cheer about.
With Brook Lopez missing all but 13 games with a back injury, Portis accompanied Giannis down low in Milwaukee’s starting five.
The Arkansas’ alum improved and provided an extra push for his team in multiple ways.
Exceeding Expectations From The Field
Coming into this season, Portis hadn’t averaged more than 11.4 points per contest since 2018. With the opportunity to play over 28 minutes per game, Portis posted a career-high 14.6 points per game on 47.9% shooting.
He also improved his career three-point percentage (38.3%) by shooting 39.3% from beyond the arc this year.
Partially thanks to Portis, Giannis was able to play less than 33 minutes per game for just the fifth time in nine seasons.
Portis scored a season-high 30 points on two occasions this year. He first scored 30 in a 29-point blowout over the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 5.
His next 30-point performance came exactly three weeks later when the Bucks dropped a nail-biter to the Brooklyn Nets by three points on Feb. 26.
Grabbing Boards Left And Right
Along with scoring more points per game than ever before, Portis did a phenomenal job at rebounding.
The power forward grabbed a career-high 9.1 rebounds per game this year with 16-rebound performances in consecutive games on Dec. 4 and 6.
Portis elevated in the playoffs, averaging a double-double with 10.6 points and 10 boards per game.
All in all, Portis had 24 double doubles throughout the 2021-22 season.
Portis Is The Ultimate Hype Man
This attribute goes beyond the box score, but Portis may be the closest to an on-court mascot that we’ll ever see.
With his yells, emphatic dunks followed by flexes and intense stares, Portis fueled Bucks’ cheers all season long.
Following just about any momentum-shifting play, Portis would be making noise and doing all he can to pump up the crowd.
Whether Portis was on the court or not when a big moment happened didn’t matter.
Much like in the 2020-21 title run, this guy made sure to bring the energy every single day.
Portis’ Future With Milwaukee
Portis is set to make a base salary of just over $4.5 million in the 2022-23 season. He will be 28 years old by the end of his contract.
Lopez, who will be 35 by the end of his contract after making a base salary of $13.9 million, will also be a free agent in 2023.
The Bucks will have some pressing decisions to make between now and the end of next season. However, Portis exceeded expectations and made a case to be extended.
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