“I called Milwaukee, they never called me first” - Bobby Portis Jr. shares the remarkable story of how he joined the Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby took his chance with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, and it paid off.

Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the most popular players on the Milwaukee Bucks, beloved for his fierce competitiveness and the energy boost off the bench. But what many fans don’t know is the remarkable story of how he got signed up by the Bucks in the first place.

He recently told this tale during his appearance on JJ Redick's "The Old Man and The Three" podcast where he reveals he took the initiative of contacting the Milwaukee Bucks himself for a chance to play on the team.

“I called Milwaukee, they never called me first,” shared Portis.

Looking for a fresh start

At the time, Portis was coming off the 2019-2020 season playing with the New York Knicks—a team that finished with a 21-45 record, good for 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Portis averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, but he felt he wasn’t getting any sort of recognition despite his solid numbers.

“I was on stinker teams where guys don't really respect stats like that if your team didn't win. You know, I didn't know that at the time. I was a young 22, 23-year-old just trying to find his way in the league,” said Portis.

With the Knicks deciding not to pick up his team option, Portis suddenly became a free agent. Making matters worse, the pandemic hit, leaving the Arkansas native uncertain about his future in the Association.

“I'm at home for eight, nine months just working out, working on my game, really not knowing what's next,” said Portis.

Felt he could help Milwaukee

Portis then caught several Milwaukee Bucks playoff games and saw they had a hole he could ably plug. So, he tracked down Giannis Antetokounmpo’s number and called the two-time MVP himself.

“I called Giannis myself and was like, ‘Hey yo, you don't know me bro. I don't know you, but like, bro, I promise I can help you out to win a championship bro,' and six months later, we won the championship. It's one of the craziest stories ever!” Bobby said.

Portis was a pivotal piece of the Bucks’ title run in 2021, as he averaged 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in the regular season. He also had several outstanding performances in the NBA Playoffs, especially when Giannis was sidelined with a knee injury. 

Portis also got the big payday he had been looking for when he recently signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Bucks.