The Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2025-26 campaign with a retooled roster following the club’s hectic offseason.
Following their third straight first-round playoff exit in which Damian Lillard tore his Achilles, the Bucks waived and stretched the remainder of the star point guard’s contract. While this move freed up cap space to sign Myles Turner to a four-year, $108.9 million deal, it also represented the end of the Lillard era in Milwaukee.
While Lillard is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign due to the Achilles injury, the move was still shocking, as he was under contract through the 2026-27 season. The team would have needed a new starting point guard for this season regardless, and now it seems the Bucks and head coach Doc Rivers have made a decision.
MORE: Ex-Bucks Star Damian Lillard reveals return timeline with IShowSpeed
Kevin Porter Jr. set to start for Bucks
Milwaukee held its media day Monday before training camp began Tuesday. During media day, Rivers hinted that Kevin Porter Jr. will be replacing Lillard at the point, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
“You think about Scoot and his career, he started out as a high draft pick,” Rivers said. “He started. They put the ball in his hands. He could literally take any shot, and he did, you know? And now he comes from that, from not playing at times, coming off the bench, being out of the league, to now back to starting, and that’s a huge responsibility for him to run the team and still be aggressive.”
Porter was traded to the Bucks from the Los Angeles Clippers in February, averaging 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals across 20.0 minutes per game in 30 regular-season appearances with Milwaukee. He re-signed with the Bucks this summer, agreeing to a two-year, $10.5 million deal that includes a second-year player option.
While Porter is expected to start for Milwaukee, he’ll also face competition at the point from Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony. Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely take on increased ball-handling duties with Lillard now out of the picture, though Porter will also have an opportunity to prove he can facilitate on a retooled Bucks squad.
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