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3 former Knicks thriving elsewhere to start 2022-23 season

By Jordanna Clark

Oct 29, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Smith Jr. (8) handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Smith Jr. (8) handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett, Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

2: Bobby Portis

New York let Bobby Portis slip through its fingers after declining his team option ahead of the 2020-21 season, which resulted in the forward signing a two-year deal with Milwaukee. Since then, Portis has won an NBA championship and has re-signed with the Bucks on a four-year, $49 million deal.

Coming off the bench, Portis has been a force in Milwaukee. So far this season, he’s averaging a double-double with 13.1 points and 10.9 rebounds. In a 119-108 win over the Knicks on Oct. 28, he finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Portis absolutely crushed New York on the offensive glass with Mitchell Robinson in foul trouble.

This past summer, Portis said that his 2019-20 season with the Knicks was the “most miserable” of his career. He went from a 21-45 team to a 46-26 championship team, so New York declining to pick up his option worked out in his favor. If he would’ve remained on the Knicks, he wouldn’t be making the same impact that he was with the Bucks. And it’s very, very possible that Portis will end up winning his second ring this season.

It’s not often that moving from NYC to Milwaukee turns out to be a good thing, but for Portis, it changed the trajectory of his career.

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