Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the team confirmed on Tuesday.
The procedure was carried out in Vail, Colorado, by Dr. Tom Hackett at The Steadman Clinic, bringing an early end to what had been a promising campaign for the 25-year-old. Porter last featured on March 17 and had been managing the injury since the opening moments of the season.
Speaking ahead of Milwaukee’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, head coach Doc Rivers revealed the issue had lingered far longer than initially expected.
“It started eight minutes into the first game,” Rivers said. “When you look at how he played overall, he had a hell of a year and was going to have even a better year but the injury thing caught him eight minutes into our first game and he never really recovered from that.”
Despite the setback, Porter still managed to deliver strong numbers across 38 appearances this season. He averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds, emerging as an important contributor in Milwaukee’s backcourt rotation.
Rivers also shared a personal exchange with Porter that highlighted the player’s disappointment at being sidelined during a crucial stage of the season.
“He told me Sunday, ‘man, I didn’t come through for you,’” Rivers said. “And I said, ‘No, you’re fine. You just got injured. It’s part of the game and it happens.’”
The injury represents a significant blow for the Bucks as they continue their push through the season without one of their key playmakers. Porter’s ability to score, create opportunities, and contribute on the boards had added valuable depth to the team’s lineup.
While there is no immediate timeline beyond this season, the successful completion of the procedure is expected to set Porter on the path to recovery ahead of the next campaign. For now, Milwaukee must regroup and adjust their rotation as they aim to maintain momentum in his absence.
