The Milwaukee Bucks have found themselves in unfamiliar territory this season. At 12-18 and trailing the Memphis Grizzlies at halftime on Saturday night, this isn’t the kind of start anyone in Milwaukee envisioned.
From the outside, it’s been a swirl of trade rumors and speculation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo since before the season tipped off. But inside the locker room, the Bucks are staying the course-and that course still runs through their two-time MVP.
Rather than entertain the idea of moving Giannis, Milwaukee is doing what any team with a generational talent should do: trying to build around him. The goal is clear-get healthy, get back to winning, and surround Giannis with the right pieces to compete now and into the future.
One of those pieces may already be in place. Kevin Porter Jr., who joined the Bucks this season, has quietly put together one of the most efficient scoring stretches of his career. And when you dig into the numbers, he’s not just playing well-he’s joining elite company.
Giannis and Porter Jr. Are Scoring With Rare Efficiency
We’ve come to expect scoring dominance from Giannis. He’s long been one of the league’s most efficient high-volume scorers, and he’s the only player in NBA history to average 30+ points while shooting 60% or better from the field-not once, but twice. That blend of power, touch, and relentless attacking is what makes him such a matchup nightmare.
This season, he’s at it again. Through 17 games, Giannis is averaging 28.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, shooting 64% from the field and posting a true shooting percentage of 66.9%. That’s not just good-it’s elite, even by his own lofty standards.
But what’s turning heads is who’s joining him in that statistical neighborhood.
There are only six players in the entire league averaging at least 20 points per game with a true shooting percentage of 64% or higher this season. That list includes MVPs and All-NBA regulars: Nikola Jokic, Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Austin Reaves-and yes, Kevin Porter Jr.
For Porter, this is a breakout year. He’s averaging career highs in both points (20.4) and assists (7.5), while shooting 44% from the field, 36% from three, and 84% from the free throw line.
His true shooting percentage? A career-best 64.9%.
That kind of efficiency, especially from a guard who’s tasked with creating offense and facilitating, is no small feat. It’s a sign that Porter isn’t just putting up numbers-he’s doing it in a way that helps win games.
Building Toward Something Bigger
The Bucks’ record doesn’t reflect the kind of season they hoped for, and the absence of Giannis due to injury hasn’t helped. But the silver lining is that they’ve seen flashes of what this roster might be capable of when it’s fully healthy and clicking.
Porter’s emergence as a high-efficiency playmaker and scorer gives Milwaukee another weapon to deploy alongside Giannis. And when you have two players operating at that level of offensive efficiency, it gives you a foundation to build on-especially in a league where spacing, shot selection, and offensive flow are everything.
The Bucks aren’t waving any white flags. They’re still in the fight, still committed to building around their franchise cornerstone, and still capable of turning this season around. If Giannis can return to full strength and Porter continues this upward trajectory, Milwaukee could very well flip the narrative.
For now, the numbers tell a story of two stars quietly doing something special. And if the Bucks can translate that into wins, they might just remind everyone why Giannis-and the team around him-still matter in the East.