Portis returning to Bucks on new deal

Former Arkansas standout Bobby Portis is returning to the Milwaukee Bucks on a new contract.

ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted Thursday that Portis, 27, has agreed to a four-year, $49 million deal with the franchise. He became a free agent after declining a $4.6 million player option for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday.

“Dear Milwaukee, the endless love and support that you guys have shown me over the past two years is second to none,” Portis said in a video posted to his Twitter account Thursday evening. “I would like to thank my family, friends, teammates (and) coaches for always being there with me. 

"From a 20-year-old rookie to a 27-year-old NBA champ. Bucks in six. Four more years.”

After winning an NBA title with the Bucks in 2021, Portis last regular season averaged career bests in points (14.6) and rebounds (9.1) over 28.2 minutes per game, which was also a career high. He started 59 of 72 games.

In the 2022 postseason, he started 5 of Milwaukee’s 12 games and averaged 10.6 points on 41.7% shooting and 10 rebounds. Portis filled in admirably in the absence of All-Star guard Khris Middleton, who injured his knee.

In Game 5 of the Bucks’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics, Portis made a nine-foot floater for the go-ahead score in the final seconds. It gave Milwaukee a 3-2 series lead.

“He’s ready, ready to compete,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said of Portis after the game. “I love playing with him. I love being out there with him.

“He always gives his all for the team."