2: Bobby Portis
Breaking onto the scene last season after a brief one-year stint with the Knicks back in 2019-20, Bobby Portis quickly became a fan favorite whilst coming off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks.
With his production, he wound up proving to be a major part of the team’s playoff excursion that, ultimately, ended with them winning an NBA title.
Now, after signing a deal to remain in Wisconsin this past offseason, through 71 games played on the season the big man is proving to have a similar, if not a bigger impact on the team’s overall successes.
Finding himself serving as a starter for a large chunk of the campaign, Portis is seemingly doing it all for Milwaukee. He has impressive averages of 14.7 points, 9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and just shy of both a block and a steal per game on 48.1% shooting from the floor and 39.7% shooting from deep.
Serving as a core producer on both ends of the floor, allowing for desirable offensive spacing within the frontcourt, and underrated efforts on the less glamorous side of the ball (ranks second to only Giannis Antetokounmpo in defensive rating out of those who have logged over 800 minutes for the team), the 27-year-old finds himself in the midst of a career-year.
The second-seeded Bucks are reaping the benefits. Considered by many to be the heart-and-soul of this Milwaukee team, Portis is coming into the playoffs ready to ball.