On “The Wake Up,” Alex Squadron, a former writer for SLAM Magazine, and Irv Roland, a basketball skills trainer with over 15 years of NBA experience, highlight the hoopers and stories you’re sleeping on. Follow us on Twitter.
Alex:
I've gotten the chance to interview and write about Bobby Portis several times over the years and was always left with the same impression. A lot of athletes proudly identify as underdogs, or claim to have a "chip on their shoulder"—to be out to prove their doubters wrong. Bobby really, really means it when he says it. Like, so much so that it’s become his mantra—his approach to everything in life. He has completely embraced an underdog mentality, dating all the way back to his childhood in Little Rock, AR, where basketball is more of an afterthought and reaching the NBA can seem unattainable.
Raised by his mother, Tina Edwards, in an area often defined by its crime and violence, Bobby and his three brothers grew up desperately searching for stability. The family was kicked out of multiple apartments and spent nights crashing at the homes of others, with Bobby sometimes sleeping on the floor. “Growing up where I’m from, obviously it’s tough,” Bobby once told me for a SLAM story. ““I’ve witnessed almost everything. It’s a gritty, blue-collar city. You’re a product of your environment there. Being from my city, you’re not expected to make it. There’s a lot of talent from my town that doesn’t make it out.”
There was a hunger and determination derived from these early challenges, bolstered by curious moments when Portis was overlooked on his hoops journey: getting benched during a state championship game in high school; falling to the No. 22 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft after winning SEC Player of the Year over guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker; bouncing around to four different franchises in a short period.
In 2019, I asked Bobby if he enjoyed being the underdog. “Hell yeah, absolutely man,” he said. "When you fall in love with your craft, fall in love with what you do, you embrace who you are and you embrace everything that comes with it. Obviously everybody’s path is different. Some people always had it, they made it to where they are and they’re successful. Some people had to go through things and grind through things to get there. I’m kind of really thankful for my journey. I think my journey is what made me the underdog.”
So yeah, Portis has fully embraced that "slept-on" mindset. He has his very own UNDERDOG logo and clothing brand, which he frequently rocks through the tunnels of NBA arenas. All of his Instagram posts have the hashtag #UNDERDOG and his Twitter bio reads: "Turned nothing into something #UNDERDOG." He was an easy choice for The Wake Up, especially considering the tremendous season he's having for the Bucks.
As of this writing, Portis is averaging 11.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in merely 21 minutes per contest (19.0 points and 12.1 rebounds per 36) and having the most efficient season of his career, shooting 53% from the field and an absurd 46% from beyond the arc. He’s been a deep threat for a number of years now, but what we’re seeing in 2020-21 is next level. He’s currently fifth in the entire NBA in three-point percentage (trailing just Tony Snell, Joe Ingles, Joe Harris and Luke Kennard) and the only big man who ranks in the top 13. Playing alongside guys like reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, who constantly apply pressure and leave defenses scrambling, has certainly helped. All of Bobby’s threes have been assisted on, and there’s been at least four feet of room between him and the closest defender on roughly half of his total shot attempts, per NBA tracking data. Still, you have to take advantage of those open looks and free opportunities, and few in the league are doing that better than Portis.
Tune in to Milwaukee on any given night and you’ll see that Portis is way more than just a spot-up shooter—he’s got an extremely versatile and dynamic offensive skill set. He connects on midrange jumpers off the bounce, creates space with a jab step or little turn-around fade, sets strong screens and is effective both rolling and popping, and bullies smaller opponents on the post with his 250-pound frame, finishing 71% of his shots at the rim. Like Kevin Garnett (one of his idols), Bobby aspires to fit both the old school and new school mold, being the enforcer in the paint and someone who can stretch the floor with his range. His scoring prowess (he’s dropped 15 or more fourteen times so far this season) is one reason that Milwaukee has the No. 2 offense in the NBA.
Come playoff time, it seems inevitable that there will be at least one “Bobby Portis Game,” where “the underdog” erupts for 20+ points and his performance defines a crucial Bucks’ victory. If the mantra rings true, many will be surprised when it happens. But they shouldn’t be.
“If I could look ahead a little bit, I could see myself being an All-Star one day,” Bobby told me in 2019. “That’s my goal. I want to be an All-Star. If you asked a thousand people, I bet you most of them would say I’m crazy to say that. But that’s that underdog mentality that you have to have. I know that when I step out there, there’s a lot of people that doubt me. You know, I love being doubted.”
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Irv:
After leaving Arkansas following two productive seasons in the SEC, Portis was seen as a guy that could step into the NBA and have a productive career with his ability to pick-and-pop. He always possessed the skill set to consistently knock down midrange shots, but what’s helped him take things to another level has been the work he’s done from three. Now with the Milwaukee Bucks, he’s asked to help spread the floor for their playmakers and he’s done just that.
Although his attempts aren’t very high per game, he’s shooting 46% from three, which keeps defenses more than honest to give Giannis and Holiday room to navigate and do what they do nightly. At 55% from two, the highest of his career, he’s given the Bucks another threat to help elevate their offense. After losing Marvin Williams to retirement, Milwaukee was in need of bigs that could provide spacing for their two-time MVP Antetokounmpo.
Portis has always been known for his intensity and energy. This is something that sets him apart from a lot of players that tend to play cool and, in stretches, just go through the motions. He’s always played with a chip on his shoulder that ends up being contagious for his teammates. Bringing that attitude to a team that already has championship aspirations is something that has only enhanced their squad.
Because of the make-up of the roster, attempts have been inconsistent for guys coming off the bench, but early on it’s been apparent that the team is better when Portis is aggressive on the offensive end. As a coach, you always want selfless, energy-giving players like Portis. His approach to the game is something all young players should mimic. He made several sacrifices to come to Milwaukee because he wanted to win. This will be his first time in the playoffs since the 2016 season, and his first real shot playing for a contender. No doubt in my mind that his energy alone is going to help push this team further.
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Q+A with Alex Bazzell, Bobby’s trainer
The Wake Up: You’ve been working with Bobby for a few years now (since 2017). What areas have you focused on and where have you seen the most growth in his game?
Bazzell: We’ve always focused on his outside shot and his ability to operate within his post touches. Year after year, you’ve seen an increase in his three-point percentage, which has landed him in the position he’s in today.
The Wake Up: Why do you think Milwaukee been such a great fit for Bobby?
Bazzell: Milwaukee is a great fit because of the opportunity, to be honest. For many guys like BP, it’s about fit and opportunity. BP is at his best when he can play freely and he’s winning. He’s a rare NBA guy that isn’t happy when he scores 20 in a loss. BP is and always has been about winning, so for him to be rewarded on a team like Milwaukee that has a good chance to win every night and they allow him to play his game, that’s special and all you can ask for.
The Wake Up: What’s the next step you’d like to see him take in his development?
Bazzell: BP is still young [26 years old], which a lot of people forget. So I think it’s getting him more comfortable in space with the ball in his hands—making reads and passes is the next progression I’d love to see. If he can start picking defenses apart with his playmaking out of pinch post, he’s going to be impossible to deal with. Defense is also always a focus for BP.
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Also, don’t sleep on…
-Comeback KD. In his first game back from injury on Wednesday night, Durant came off the bench and posted 17 points (on a perfect 5/5 from the field), 7 rebounds and 5 assists in an absolutely dominant 139-111 victory.
-…And comeback IT! After more than a year, Isaiah Thomas made his return to the court on Tuesday with the Pelicans, rocking No. 24 in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.
-The Suns. Despite their prolonged success, it seems like Phoenix is still being slept on. They have the second best record in the NBA (36-15) and have won eight of their last ten. Here are Booker’s absurd numbers over the previous five: 34.4 points and 4.2 assists, shooting 54% from the field and 90% from the line.
-The new-look Nuggets. With Aaron Gordon in the mix, Denver has won seven games in a row. A starting lineup of Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Michael Porter Jr has outscored teams by 32 points per 100 possessions in 90 minutes of action together.
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Slept-on “On This Date”
April 10, 1986: Hawks star Dominique Wilkins dropped 57 points in a 126-117 win over the New Jersey Nets. Wilkins had seven 50-point games during his career.
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Prior posts:
Follow Irv Roland and Alex Squadron on Twitter. Videos via Spectrum. Logo by Oliver Baltay.