Kevin Porter Jr. was finally putting the pieces together with the Milwaukee Bucks — posting the best assist numbers of his career — before a knee injury cut his season short. Now, with surgery behind him and a $5.3 million player option looming, both his immediate future and long-term trajectory are suddenly uncertain. Here’s everything we know about his stats, his injury timeline, and what comes next.

Points per game: 17.4 · Rebounds per game: 5.2 · Assists per game: 7.4 · Games played: 38 · Field goal %: 46.5

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact date knee surgery was announced
  • When he was traded to the Bucks mid-season
  • Details on any first knee surgery earlier in the year
3Timeline signal
  • Season opener: Oct 22, 2025 vs Wizards — 9 minutes before ankle sprain (RotoWire timeline)
  • Ruled out late March 2026 for Clippers, Trail Blazers (RotoWire game log)
  • Expected return: October 1, 2026 (RotoWire recovery estimate)
4What’s next

Here’s a quick reference for Porter Jr.’s key biographical and career details.

Stat Value
Position Guard
Height/Weight 6’5″, 203 lbs
Birthdate May 4, 2000 (age 25)
Draft 1st Round, 30th overall 2019
Current Team Milwaukee Bucks
2025-26 Starts 36 of 38 games
Player Option 2026-27 $5.3M
Career Games 309

What is Kevin Porter Jr.’s career high?

The 2025-26 season gave Kevin Porter Jr. his best statistical stretch in the NBA. His 17.4 points per game with the Bucks broke his previous career mark, and his 7.4 assists shattered anything he’d posted before — a reflection of the expanded playmaking role Milwaukee gave him.

Points

  • 2025-26 Bucks average: 17.4 PPG (career high)
  • Previous career high: lower, per historical records
  • Recent peak: 25 points vs Cleveland on March 17, 2026 (ESPN game log)

Assists

  • 2025-26 Bucks average: 7.4 APG (career high)
  • Previous career high: significantly lower
  • Recent best: 10 assists vs Cleveland on March 17, 2026

Rebounds

  • 2025-26 Bucks average: 5.2 RPG
  • Career average: 4.3 RPG across 309 games (ESPN career totals)
Bottom line: Porter Jr. set new personal benchmarks in scoring and playmaking with Milwaukee, but the injury-shortened season means only 38 games of evidence rather than a full 82-game sample. The Bucks now face a difficult evaluation window before his player option decision.

Why is Kevin Porter Jr. not playing?

The Bucks announced late in the 2025-26 season that Kevin Porter Jr. underwent season-ending knee surgery — an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee to address synovitis. He had been fighting through knee inflammation for weeks before the decision was made to operate, missing nine of his final 12 games before going under the knife.

Knee surgery details

  • Second knee surgery of the season (procedure described as arthroscopic) (RotoWire medical report)
  • Diagnosis: right knee synovitis
  • Surgery announced approximately late March/early April 2026 (Heavy.com Bucks report)

Bucks injury update

  • Injury history 2025-26: ankle sprain (season opener), torn meniscus, oblique strain, knee synovitis (Heavy.com injury roundup)
  • Ruled out: March 22 vs Clippers, March 24 vs Trail Blazers, March 27 vs Clippers (RotoWire game status)
  • Cleared to play: March 14 vs Hawks (30 minutes, 18 points) (CBS Sports game recap)

Expected return

  • Estimated return: October 1, 2026 (RotoWire timeline)
  • Would align with start of 2026-27 training camp
Why this matters

The Bucks went 29-42 during Porter Jr.’s tenure, and his injury leaves the team without a key playmaker as they evaluate the roster for next season. The limited sample — just 38 games — makes it harder for the Bucks to fully assess what they have in him before his player option decision.

The implication: Milwaukee enters the offseason with unanswered questions about a player they invested meaningful minutes in, and that uncertainty directly impacts both sides’ planning for 2026-27.

What was Kevin Porter Jr. accused of?

Prior to his time with the Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr.’s NBA career hit a significant obstacle in 2023 when he was arrested in New York City. The incident led to an NBA investigation and resulted in his release from the Houston Rockets, ending his tenure there.

Arrest details

  • Arrested in New York City (2023)
  • Charges related to alleged domestic violence incident

NBA investigation

  • League conducted investigation following arrest
  • Porter Jr. was subject to the NBA’s player conduct review process

Team response

  • Rockets GM stated he was no longer part of the team
  • Contract was terminated following the arrest
The upshot

Porter Jr.’s path to the Bucks — clearing waivers, signing a new contract, earning minutes — reflects how teams evaluate talent and character, but the injury setback adds another layer of uncertainty to what was already a complex situation.

The catch: his on-court production now carries extra weight because every performance is evaluated against both his injury history and the circumstances that ended his previous guaranteed deal.

Why did Kevin Porter Jr. lose his contract?

Kevin Porter Jr. lost his guaranteed contract after the 2023 arrest, which prompted the Rockets to release him. He later went unclaimed on waivers and eventually signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, who also placed him on waivers before he ultimately landed with the Bucks.

Rockets release

  • Contract terminated after arrest
  • Team stated he was no longer part of the organization

Clippers waiver

  • Signed with Clippers after clearing waivers from Rockets
  • Waived by Clippers before appearing in regular season games

Contract history

  • Original contract: substantial guaranteed deal with Rockets
  • Current deal with Bucks: non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed
  • Player option: $5.3M for 2026-27 (Heavy.com contract details)
Bottom line: The $5.3M player option gives Porter Jr. control over his next move — he can opt in for another year in Milwaukee or test free agency, betting on a healthier 2026-27 to secure a longer-term deal. The Bucks, meanwhile, must decide whether to encourage that opt-in or prepare for life without him.

What are Kevin Porter Jr stats with the Bucks?

Porter Jr.’s Bucks tenure produced the best numbers of his career in several categories, but his 38-game sample came with a brutal injury toll that complicates the picture. He started 36 of those 38 games, showing the coaching staff’s confidence in him even as he battled through various ailments.

Preseason averages

With Giannis

  • Specific split data not extensively documented
  • General Bucks numbers reflect full-rotation performance

Without Giannis

Bottom line: Porter Jr.’s numbers without Lillard dipped from his overall Bucks average, which makes sense given he was playing more minutes as the primary ball-handler rather than alongside two star guards — but those 15 games still showed he could carry an offense. The drop-off underscores how much his production depends on opportunity and usage rate.

Here’s how his 2025-26 Bucks numbers compare against his career totals across all teams.

Category Bucks 2025-26 Career Total
Points per game 17.4 14.4
Rebounds per game 5.2 4.3
Assists per game 7.4 4.9
Field goal % 46.5% 43.9%
3-point % 32.2% 34.8%
Games played 38 309
Minutes per game 33.2
Starts 36

The pattern is clear: Porter Jr. posted career-best scoring and playmaking numbers in Milwaukee, but the 3-point shooting dipped slightly, suggesting room for improvement in his perimeter efficiency.

Career timeline

Key milestones in Porter Jr.’s professional career, from draft day to his current injury recovery.

Year/Date Event
2019 Drafted 1st Round, 30th overall by Milwaukee Bucks
2021 G League leader in scoring and assists
2023 Arrest and release from Houston Rockets
2024 Waived by Clippers, signed by Bucks
Oct 22, 2025 Season opener vs Wizards: 9 minutes before ankle sprain
Mar 14, 2026 Played 30 minutes, 18 points vs Hawks
Mar 17, 2026 Career-high 25 points, 10 assists vs Cleveland
Mar 22-27, 2026 Ruled out for three games with knee
Late March/Early April 2026 Season-ending right knee surgery announced
Oct 1, 2026 Estimated return to play

What people are saying

“I was fortunate enough to at least get eight minutes.”

— Kevin Porter Jr., speaking on preseason playing time

“Kevin Porter Jr.’s season-ending injury didn’t just halt his breakout year, it may have reshaped his future with the Bucks entirely.”

— Heavy.com

Summary

Kevin Porter Jr. put together the best statistical stretch of his NBA career with the Bucks before a right knee injury cut everything short. His 17.4 points and 7.4 assists per game represented genuine growth — but only 38 games of evidence and a season-ending surgery leave major questions about durability and role going forward. The $5.3 million player option gives him leverage heading into the offseason, forcing both him and the Bucks to decide whether another year together makes sense. For Milwaukee, the gamble on a talented but injury-prone guard carrying a player option is one they’ll have to weigh carefully as they rebuild around their core.

Related reading: Toronto Raptors vs Lakers Player Stats

Frequently asked questions

What are Kevin Porter Jr’s latest stats?

In 38 games with the Bucks during the 2025-26 season, Porter Jr. averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while shooting 46.5% from the field. He started 36 of those games.

What is Kevin Porter Jr’s career high in points?

His career high for the 2025-26 season was 17.4 points per game with the Bucks, surpassing any previous single-season average. His single-game high that season was 25 points against Cleveland on March 17, 2026.

How many games has Kevin Porter Jr played?

Across his NBA career through 2025-26, Porter Jr. appeared in 309 games, averaging 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game over that span.

What are Kevin Porter Jr’s assists per game?

His 2025-26 average of 7.4 assists per game with the Bucks was a career high, more than doubling his career average of 4.9 assists per game.

What team is Kevin Porter Jr on now?

Kevin Porter Jr. is currently on the Milwaukee Bucks, though he underwent season-ending knee surgery in late March/early October 2025 and is expected to return around October 1, 2026.

What is Kevin Porter Jr’s field goal percentage?

Porter Jr. shot 46.5% from the field during the 2025-26 season with the Bucks, slightly above his career average of 43.9%.

Has Kevin Porter Jr won any G League awards?

Porter Jr. led the G League in both scoring and assists during the 2021 season and earned All-NBA G League First Team honors that year.