Kevin Porter Jr.’s road to redemption is in full flow

Not long ago, Kevin Porter Jr. looked destined to become another cautionary tale of squandered talent derailed by off-court issues. 

A former first-round pick with tantalizing upside, Porter’s NBA journey was first disrupted by a weapons charge in 2020 that led to his departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2023, more serious legal trouble — stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident —halted his rise with the Houston Rockets and threatened to end his career entirely.

But after a stint overseas and a return to the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks, Porter is writing a different kind of story, one marked by growth, resilience and redemption.

Following the 2023 arrest in New York, Porter found himself out of the league and searching for a path forward. That path led him to PAOK BC in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he signed for a modest salary and committed to rebuilding both his reputation and his game. 

In just six appearances, he averaged 22.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals, proving that his talent hadn’t disappeared with his NBA contract.

His strong showing in Greece earned him a two-year deal with the Clippers in July 2024. Though his role was limited, averaging under 20 minutes across 45 games, he showed enough flashes to warrant further interest.

At the February trade deadline, the Bucks made a bold move, acquiring Porter in exchange for former first-round pick MarJon Beauchamp. Since then, their gamble has been paying off.

In 30 regular-season games with the Bucks, Porter averaged 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals off the bench, shooting a career-best 40.8 percent from three-point range. 

His production surged in April, where he posted averages of 16.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game while maintaining 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc.