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Bobby Portis takes playful shot at Knicks All-Star Julius Randle

By Jordanna Clark

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 28: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 28, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 28: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 28, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis is a leading candidate to win the Sixth Man of the Year award, but so is New York Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said that he believes Quickley will win the award but in an interview with Yahoo Sports’ Dan Devine, Portis campaigned for himself to win the award.

After saying that his impact on the Bucks this season should “rightfully” give him a chance to win Sixth Man, Devine asked Portis who’s the most satisfying player to score on in the NBA. Portis said every player that he grew up playing against as a kid, but when Devine asked him to name one of those players, Portis went with Julius Randle.

Portis said: “I think me and Julius always go at it.”

Bobby Portis shows respect to Knicks’ Julius Randle in Yahoo Sports interview

Bobby Portis and Julius Randle go way back:

"Me and Ju, man, I’ve been knowing him since I was like eight, nine years old, him playing with the Texas Titans, me playing with the Arkansas Hawks at the time, Arkansas Legends, and then moving on to the Arkansas Wings after I got a little older, playing on the EYBL circuit and things like that.So been playing against Julius for a long time now. And it’s kind of cool to see his career take off how it is. But I definitely love matching it up and lacing them up against Ju every time. Man, that’s my guy."

The duo got to play together in New York in 2019-20, which was Randle’s first season with the Knicks and Portis’ only season with the Knicks. New York fans should remember the power forward jokes that stemmed from that season. After the Knicks declined Portis’ team option during the 2020 offseason, he signed with the Bucks.

In Milwaukee, Portis has flourished. In New York, Randle has been named an All-Star twice. Those two players from the Texas Titans and Arkansas Hawks have done pretty well for themselves.

Randle’s out with a sprained left ankle and he’s set to be re-evaluated next week ahead of the start of the playoffs. Hopefully, he’ll be able to take the court for the Knicks in their first-round playoff series against the Cavaliers. If New York wins that series and Milwaukee wins its series against the No. 8 seed (which is still yet to be determined), the Knicks and Bucks will square off in the second round.

Julius Randle and Bobby Portis in the Eastern Conference semifinals? We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but that’d be a lot of fun.

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