Brayden Burries has already made the kind of preseason impression that can start tugging at the edges of a rotation, and that matters because Kevin Porter Jr. hasn’t done much to slam the door shut.
Through two preseason games, Porter’s line has been rough enough to raise eyebrows: 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists per game, with a brutal 2-for-12 mark from the field. That’s a far cry from the player who posted career-best numbers last season, and while nobody’s sounding alarms yet, it’s not exactly reassuring either.
That opens the door for Burries, who has looked steadier than a rookie usually does this early. He’s averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game, and he’s already tied for the most clutch points in the preseason with 12. The shooting has been uneven - 34.8 percent overall - but for a first-year player, that kind of learning curve isn’t surprising.
What stands out is the way Burries seems to be pressing his case for a real role. If he keeps producing and Porter keeps sputtering, the Bucks could eventually decide to lean harder into the rookie and trim back Porter’s minutes. That’s not a decision anyone has made yet, but the pressure is clearly building.
Coach Taylor Jenkins isn’t making any calls before opening night. He wants to use every bit of the preseason schedule to evaluate the group, and there are still two games left for both players to shape the conversation.
Porter has a chance to quiet everything fast with a couple of strong showings that look more like last season. At his best, he gives Milwaukee scoring, playmaking and defense.
If he bounces back, all of this talk fades. If he doesn’t, and Burries keeps flashing, the noise only gets louder. Game four feels especially important for Porter, who should have plenty of motivation to answer back in a big way.
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For Milwaukee, the takeaway is less about talent and more about the human side of a potential heavyweight matchup. Spoelstras comments suggest he understands exactly how much respect Giannis commands, but also how much patience it will take to develop the kind of trust that can shape the way Miami approaches him moving forward. [Read more 🡒]