Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. suffered a significant left ankle sprain in the season opener against the Washington Wizards, forcing him to undergo an MRI and casting a shadow over the team’s already-thin point guard rotation, with Coach Doc Rivers calling it a ‘pretty bad sprain’.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ 2025-26 NBA season began with a decisive 133-120 victory over the Washington Wizards, but the triumph was quickly overshadowed by a concerning injury. Starting guard Kevin Porter Jr., a vital component of the team’s backcourt, exited the game in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle, prompting immediate concern from the coaching staff and the fan base alike.
Rivers’ Stark Assessment: “A Pretty Bad Sprain”
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers did not mince words when discussing Porter’s condition after the game. “It didn’t look good, I’ll just say that,” Rivers stated, indicating the severity of the injury. He further elaborated, “We’ve just got to hope for the best, but looking at it, it was a pretty bad sprain.” The 25-year-old guard is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the full extent of the damage and establish a timeline for his return.
The injury occurred late in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Wizards, a game Milwaukee ultimately won by a score of 133-120, as reported by AP News. Porter had already made a significant impact in his limited minutes, tallying 10 points and two assists in just 9 1/2 minutes on the floor before his unfortunate exit.
The Incident: Tripping Over a Teammate
The play that led to the injury was a seemingly innocuous sequence. As Washington’s Cam Whitmore drove into the paint, Porter was retreating backward and appeared to trip over the foot of his own teammate, Bobby Portis. He immediately fell to the floor in visible pain before being helped to the locker room, not returning to the contest.
While the Bucks managed to secure the win, Rivers noted that Porter’s absence might have affected the team’s performance. “Not having ‘Scoot’ out there was huge,” Rivers remarked, referring to Porter by his popular nickname. He observed a dip in the team’s ball movement and defensive intensity after Milwaukee had jumped out to a dominant 40-23 lead in the first quarter.
Milwaukee’s Perennial Point Guard Depth Concerns
Porter’s injury comes at a particularly challenging time for the Bucks, who have faced persistent questions regarding their point guard depth. Even before the season began, NBA insider Kevin Pelton highlighted this vulnerability, noting the team’s reliance on unproven guards following Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury and subsequent waiving.
“It’s possible that two-way wings could prove a greater issue, but after Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury and the club waiving him, Milwaukee is betting big on unproven point guards,” Pelton wrote during the offseason. This pre-existing concern is now amplified with Porter, arguably the most established of the group, sidelined.
The Next Men Up: Rollins and Anthony
With Porter potentially missing multiple games, the spotlight will shift to Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony to fill the void. Both guards are expected to see significantly increased playing time. Rollins, in particular, stepped up in the season opener after Porter’s exit, contributing nine points, three assists, and four rebounds in 29 minutes against the Wizards.
The immediate challenge for Milwaukee will be their upcoming game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday. Without Porter, the team will need Rollins and Anthony to shoulder a larger offensive and playmaking burden, a task that tests their mettle early in the season.
Porter’s Impact: A Timely Acquisition
The Bucks acquired Kevin Porter Jr. from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline last season, sending Marjon Beauchamp in return, a move detailed by Associated Press. His arrival provided a significant boost to the team, and he quickly became an integral part of their rotation.
In 30 games with Milwaukee, Porter averaged 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, often in less than 20 minutes per night. These numbers represented an uptick from his performance in 45 games with the Clippers earlier in the season, where he averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. His ability to score and facilitate efficiently made him a valuable asset, especially for a team grappling with backcourt stability.
Uncertainty Ahead for Milwaukee’s Backcourt
The left ankle sprain to Kevin Porter Jr. is more than just a momentary setback; it’s a critical challenge that underscores the Milwaukee Bucks’ precarious point guard situation. As the team awaits the results of his MRI, the focus turns to how Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony will rise to the occasion. The early season will test Milwaukee’s depth and adaptability, and the fan community will be watching closely to see how the team navigates this unexpected obstacle to their championship aspirations.
