April 15, 2024 • 25 mins
Chris Haynes flies solo on this special edition of #thisleague UNCUT to interview Bucks F Bobby Portis! They discuss the challenges Milwaukee has faced this season with a midseason change at head coach and adjusting to the addition of superstar Damian Lillard. Portis also makes his case to win the 6th Man of the Year Award and the latest on the injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Follow, rate and review #thisleague UNCUT with Chris Haynes & Marc Stein here!
https://link.chtbl.com/thisleagueuncut
#fsr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this League Uncut in the world of twenty
four hour NBA news. This is you, Chris Haines. It's
so telling Mark Stein, it's so time This League Uncut
is underway on five.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It should be a good one, Yes, sir, this will
be a special episode. This will be a good one
of this League Uncut podcast with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.
Mark Stein's not able to join us today is having
mechanical issues, so uh, it's all good. The show is
going to keep on rolling on. And I told you,
(00:43):
I told you guys, this week we're going to have
a special guest, and I told you. I gave you
a little clue. So it's going to be Bucks related.
So without further ado, I want to introduce to you
a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, one of the most
efficient players on that team. When the top reserves in
the entire association in the running for the sixth Man
(01:06):
of the Year award. This guy has the smooth turnaround jumper,
you can't stop it to back it up, he got
the pivots, he brings the energy. And lastly, you might
know him from a k a big bob on that
ass You know, I'm talking about the energizer buddy for
(01:28):
the Bucks. Mister Bobby Porters, how you doing, brother?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
I'm sorry, man, that's one of the best introductions I've had.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
I want.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I wanted to make you feel special, brother, you be.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Man, Yeah, but he made me feel pretty pretty damn good.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
You should, man, you have. You're having a phenomenal season. Man,
Like I said, you know, I wanted to put emphasis
on efficient because by you know, you know I played
college basketball, didn't you know? Obviously I didn't go to
the NBA. But one thing I've been noticing. I've watched
every single Bucks game. One thing I notice about you,
and it doesn't always start that way, but a lot
(02:12):
of times you end up when you coming to the game,
you end up a lot of times I don't I
haven't looked at the stats, but you end up hitting
your first shot every you know, most of the time
when you come in the game. Can you tell me, like,
when you come in the game and hit that first one,
how do you feel.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
So it's been like a thing since I was like
a kid, bro, Like, if I see just one go in, man,
that's all I really need. That's really all Hoopers do
around the world. Though, like, no matter how the game going,
no matter how you know, if you ozer for five,
oh for six, like you see worst shot go in, shoot,
it's just it's it's game time. And I think all
(02:52):
Hoopers can have tested is like you know, if you
see your first shot go in, man, you auto made
thinking there's gonna be a good night. So for me,
I just try to come in and just be efficient
as I can and to shoot the same size every night.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Now you've definitely been doing that. Man, That's one thing
I noticed. I'm like, man, every time he come in,
he hit that first one and from there, from there up,
you know, that opens up the game. And I'm like, man,
you know you ended up going on your runs and
you may hit seven or nine straight points and getting
stills and playing d And I just wanted to know, like,
how did every talk me about this role? This this
(03:28):
six man role, because most players don't they don't dream
of being a six man, right. Everybody wants to be
a starter and then you know, be a star in
that role. Usually you have to a coach has to
usually convince you to get into that role. And a
lot of times, even if they convince you to accept
(03:49):
that role, the player doesn't really accept that role and
it just never works out. How tell me about the
the maturation process you've had with that role, because it
seems like, man, you just it seemed like it just
fits you or you just know how to just fib
and he's talking about that.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
So like, Man, obviously, coming to the Bucks, you know,
the lineup was really kind of already set for real.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Man, you got Jannis, you know, you got Chris, you
got Brooken.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Then at the time when I first came here, you
had d'Arte DiVincenzo and Drew how Today as a starter.
So just being a pro man, you gotta find you
gotta find a way to impact.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Winning, to help the team win.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, not gonna lie like my role has grown
over the years. But when I first came to the Bucks, Man,
I didn't really like feel like a six man for
I just felt like one of the other guys.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
You know. You know Coase Budd used me a little different,
and uh, you know he was he was hard on me, man,
he was.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
He was great for me though, because he was always
hard on me, making sure I did all the little
things to stay on the court, you know, like getting
extra possession office of rebounding or boxing out or playing defense.
He won the first coach really just hard to buy
my defense and playing defense and being acting with your hands,
moving your feet.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Things like that.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
But as my time has progressed with the Bucks, like
the trust has grown, the camaraderie has grown, and guys
trust me enough to go out there and do what
I do. So it just makes it that much easier
for me to just come in just BEBP. I got
good teammates man, that believe in me. We all work
hard and they know how hard I work. So when
(05:34):
I come in, man, I just try to come in
and impact the game. And what better way than coming
in and trying to give a team an extra lyft
with's going.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, and you've been doing that from start to finish
this season. I know things might start off a little
bit slow for you earlier in the season, and you
just seem like you picked it up. I want to
say around to my knowledge, it seemed like around January
is when you really started to just like hit your stride.
What was it about. I know it's a different team, Dame,
(06:03):
and you know some new pieces. What was it about
that time? Were you able to turn the corner, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
To get back to the basics for real. Man, You know,
every season is different in the league. You like, like
every year I played in the league has been some
different adversity at some point, Like every year is different.
So this year from last year, you know, we were
the best team in the league. You know, we cruised
through the cruise through the regular season and then get
(06:32):
to the playoffs. We first round exit. You feel me like,
did we come to the new season? I mean, I'll
get back from Team USA, playing with them over the
summertime and get back to Milwaukee, and then suddenly I
got new We got a whole new team.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
You feel me like it just it just changed.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
And obviously adding the top seventy five player like Dame
changes everybody role kind of a little bit. To start
the season, we had to figure it out just a
little bit and figure out how we're gonna you know,
I just to implement him with us and then how
we're gonna you know, be with him and find out chemistry.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
You know. Obviously we start off the season pretty.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Good, but it was kind of hard just to find
the find a groove, find the rhythm and inconsistency at first,
and then once January came. Man, just get back to
the basics. I just got back to the gym, get
my form, shots up, and just saying, hey man, it's
just trying to hoot.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Man, stop all that thinking. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
I think when you're a basketball player, when you think
too much and think the game and try to do
all the right things throughout the game, you kind of
mess with the game a little bit and being who
you are. And I'm just a guy that goes out
there and plays point five basketball.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
If I got a shot, I take it.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
If I don't, d h O, I try to get
to rempenetrating, piss to a teammate, just pay point five ball.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Getting back to that for real.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
How challenging has this season been? You know, you've been
around the league and you face adversity, different, yeah, trials
that may come your way. In the eighty two game season,
you got a coach and change, which shocked a lot
of people because, believe you, guys were records pretty good.
I can't remember what it was at the top, but
it was good enough to get you to get to
(08:11):
have the Bucks coaching staff be the coach of the
Eastern Conference All Stars. So how challenging has this season
been with all the changes.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I mean, it's been challenging obviously. I think every season
is a challenge, to be honest.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
But you know, just as a fan.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Probably of the game, you know, you probably like, hey, like,
why can't all these players that's you know, great guys,
great great players in the league just work automatically, or
why can't this coach, you know, coach these guys up
to a standard or be.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Whatever it is. But you know, it's like it's not
a video game.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
You feel me like we are real life people, Like
we are people in real life.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Sometimes things take time.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Adversity isn't always a bad thing, you know, adversity is good.
And I know with US, man, I don't know which
team in the league has went through more adversity than
US this season. Like we've been injured most of the years,
some guys been out in and out the lineup. And
we had three different coaches obviously, we had Adrian and
Doc and Joe even coached two or three games as well,
(09:16):
Joe Prunty. So you know, I don't think many teams
been through as much as versity to the US.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
So that could be a could be a.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Great thing in the long run for US Man, especially
when playoffs coming. You know, you can hit with their
first hate maker and then you got to respond.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
That's a good way to look at it. And my
producer Ryan just sent me a text that you guys
were thirty and thirteen when Adrian Griffin was dismissed as
brought in since has brought in Doc Rivers. But yeah,
it was that was a shock to many at that time.
But BP, I want to ask you. I want to
get back to the team, but let me ask you
about this six man real quick. So you know, I
(09:54):
watched again. I watch every BUS game and I see
the contribution. It's like all these awards out there, right,
It's like a lot of voters don't get to see
watch these guys every day and they don't understand the impact.
They don't understand how vital it is. Like sometimes like
(10:15):
you have you may have a six man candidate, right VP,
but they play like real starter minutes, like they may
play like thirty five plus like they're playing starter men.
They may play more than some of the starters. And
then you have six men who come in and they
have you know, your cap on your limits you know
your your limit cap. You got to get to it exactly,
(10:38):
you get to it. So the names that we're hearing,
you know obviously your name, Bobby Porters, and then a
lot of people show a lot of love for Malik
Monk with Sacramento. And I'm not trying to ask you
to discourage any other candidates out there, but for people
who don't get to see or who choose not to
(10:58):
watch a lot of New Bus games, tell me what
it is that you provide. If you got to explain, okabp,
what is your role on this team? What do you
do for this team on a day to day basis?
Explain your season in a nutshell to people who probably
aren't informed.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Man, if I could just say one word for real, man, shit,
just just availability. I'm I'm ready every night, bro, Like
I play every game. I think the Bucks have played
eighty one games this season. We got one game left
them all. And I think Barby Reporters has played eighty
one games as well. Like I'm here, bro, like hurt
(11:38):
whatever it is I'm feeling tired or feeling sluggish, or
my elbow hurting, my knee hurting, Like I'm out here hooping, Bro,
like for real. And you know last year I got
you know, criticized a lot for starting a lot of games.
So I didn't win the award last year. So this
year I've only started three games. You know, I come
(12:00):
off the bench every night. You know, I don't talk
about the other candidates. Other guys are great, they do
great for their teams and whatever. But you know, I
just think my impact on my team. Man, It's just
a lot more different.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Man.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I'm like a heart and soul. You feel me like
I work my heart on my sleeve every single night.
You know, No coach gotta worry about trying to get
number nine hyped up.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
He come in already hyped. You feel me.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
BP. Has there been a situation where, uh, the team
might have wanted you to start to start a game
or two, You be like, nah, no, leave me on
the bitch. I gotta get this. I'm going for the
sixth Mad of War.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Nah, I think.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I think like in years past, I tried to do
that and Coach Budd still won't going. Yeah, like years past,
this year I just set up. I really want to
worry about no award or nothing like. I talked about
it a lot last year. And once I fell up
short last year kind of like I ain't gonna say discouraged.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
But it was like, dang bro I like average double
double off the bench, you say, the dude win. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
But this year I've just been trying to just take
it a day at a time. Man, it's been a
long season, up and down a lot of adversity. So
just trying to be available for my team every night,
no matter who's playing, and try to stack as many
games and stack the camaraderie you going into a postseason.
But nah, I ain't never really just been like, hey man,
(13:24):
hey doc I don't.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Want to start doc Na. I ain gonna tell them.
I'm gonna tell him that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
For those who don't know, BP's playing an average of
twenty four minutes a game, averaging just a shade under
fourteen points a game, shooting fifty percent from the field
and shooting forty percent from three with seven point four boards.
That's crazy. So you think if he's averaging starter minutes,
that's a double double easy. And the season he talked
about last year where he averaged let me see, it
(13:53):
was fourteen point one, shot forty nine percent from the field,
thirty seven percent from three and he averaged nine point
six rebound and he played almost close to two minutes
more last season per game. So that's what he's speaking
on when he's talking about just the shortcomings. And so BP,
let me let me ask you this. So we're recording
(14:13):
this on a Saturday and it's going to air Monday morning,
so you guys will already know your pecking order in
the standings, and you talk about availability, BP, and I'm
not trying to persuade you, but just hear me out.
So you talk about availability here. So if I'm looking
(14:34):
at the standings VP, and if I'm thinking because you
guys ain't been playing well over the last few weeks.
So if I'm looking at the standings, you guys as
the number two seed, you know you could potentially go
against Philly or Miami in that first round depending on
the play. In situation, right, you're at the three seed,
(14:56):
potentially Orlando or Indianna. So BP, if Doc Rivers comes
to you and says, BP, I'm sorry, I know availability
is important to you, but uh, I think I think
I like our chances better at number three seed, and
(15:17):
so we gotta sit you.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
No, I'm probably if that's the case for real.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
I'm gonna I'm gonna check in and check out like did.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, I gotta get my eighty that's fair.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
But BP, you know, I gotta get this.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You get that, Don and I and I commend you
on that, BP, but you know, but BP, you know
you come in and out. Now your your points per
game is dropping.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, it's all about being healthy.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
It's all about being healthy going into the postseason and
being a pro man. That's part of the gig man
is being able to be coachable, being able to understand
situations and being under and being able to to understand
the bigger picture man, like the bigger picture and this
is that you know, we're trying to get to June
and it is April, and that is two months away.
(16:11):
So being smart about the things and being coachable to
what the coaches and training staff and front office has
already scouted for us, they'll be the smart thing. But
I think were hooping them all though, for sure, I
think we think Yeah, I think we.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So b How do you how do you guys view
the standards? Like, how do you guys look at those matchups?
Because I love it, bro, I love it.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I love it this year because you got to think
about it like, no matter if your first, second, third,
or fourth, like whoever you get, man like, you're getting
a good opponent.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
You feel me. So it's not like like you've a
duck somebody or we're.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Gonna lose this game in that game because we don't
want to play such and such.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
No, if you're three, you still play Indiana.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
They nice. If you four, you still play the Magic.
They're gonna play hard to give you a great game.
If you want, you might Miami, if you wanted to,
you may play Miami or Philly, no matter where you're at,
Like like you you're gonna get a get a great opponent.
And it's only this this this playoff is gonna be
lit man like for TV purposes, for matchup purposes, the
(17:15):
storyline that's.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Gonna get built. I'm a fan of the game.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I love basketball, So this playoff is gonna be jumping
man like. It's gonna be some great matchups, and it's
gonna be some mussy TV like think about it, like
the Clippers and the Clippers of Dallas, Like that's already
locked up, Like that's a lot of buckets. Bro like
you know what I'm saying, Like that's must ce TV.
Like it's just as a fan of the game, speaking
as a fan, like this.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
This playoff is gonna be jumping man. Who wanted more?
That's always gonna be this year who wanted.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So you got the elephant in the room? Is Gianni
out with the cap injury miss the remains in three
games of the regular season. Uh, how how optimistic are
you that you have the big fella back when when
the playoffs start.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
I really haven't heard much about the situation obviously, Like
nobody ever wants to see, like nobody get hurt, whether
it's your teammate, whether it's somebody like on another team.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Like, you know, this game is beautiful.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
We all play it to provide and play it to
uh you know, obviously because we love the game. But
you know, obviously it sucks to you know, not have
one of the best players in the league obviously available.
Uh we don't know the situation and in entirety, but
can only send thoughts and prayers out to him for
a speedy recovery, however long it takes. And our main
(18:45):
job is to keep the main thing, the main thing,
basketball stay of the same man, you know, go out
there and play, play the game the right way, trust
each other and all the things we went through all season. Uh,
you know it's time to you know, just put it
on display in these playoffs.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Man.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
But like I said, I don't know much about the situation,
haven't heard much. But hopefully everything all right. Hopefully everything
all right with big fella.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
What there's a lot of people who have jumped off
the Bucks bandwagon, especially over the last few weeks. Why, obviously,
you guys will still believe, you know, you guys are competitors.
But what gives y'all hope, you know, especially what happened
all season long has never really been you know, you
(19:32):
guys have had spurts, but never really clicked for a
long periods of time. And then the way you're ending
the season is not not you know, the optimal way.
What gives you, guys hope that you guys can make
a run and not just a run because this team
is built to win a championship. What gives you guys
hope that you guys still can pursue and accomplish something
(19:52):
like that.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I would say, like just as a fan of the game,
like like nobody really talked about like Denver last year
when they I was like eight out of fifteen games
in the season, like they lost, like nah the sixteen
eight out of fifteen games, and to see nobody like.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Ever brought it up.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
So it's like with us, like we just take it
with a grain of salt for real, Like that's the
outside world's you know, views and.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
How they view us whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
But you know, teams go through slumps, teams go through adversity,
and like I said, man, we just sold battle testing.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Man, we didn't been through everything this season.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Man, we didn't have three coaches, We didn't went to
Vegas like like we didn't.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Like we didn't been everywhere. Like it's like it's crazy,
like like for real, like with the Vegas doing scenes,
like bro, we didn't. We didn't did everything this year.
Like it's been crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
So I think what keeps us optimistic about our chances
just the makeup of our team. Man, our team is
very very very fucking resilient with everything. Uh, you know,
we together, our camaraderie is is great. Sometimes we just
have we had to those lapses during throughout the season
where it didn't look right.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
But with us.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Uh, you know, I think the best thing coming up
is you know, it's playoff ball. Every game matters, and
the makeup of our room is champions. You know, we
got battle tested guys that's been there before. So I'm
not worried at all, man, just more more so, just
want to take it to day at a time, thinking
or trying to get to ahead of what's to come.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And BP Bobby Porter's here with us on this league
and cut last question for you, Doc Rivers, since he's
come on board, what had what has his presence been
like in the locker room, in the organization. You just
talk about him being a part of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Man, Like I got so much respect for Doc man
just I never really knew him before, Like like my
favorite player is Kevin Garnett, Like it's my favorite basketball player.
I try to immolate him a lot on the court
and do things, shoot fase, whatever it is.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
But that's my god.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Man.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
You know Doc's cool, bro, Like he.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Done did so much for me just his time being here,
building the confidence in me, Like I'm extra confident and
I don't see like if people watch me, who like
I'm just extra confident, Like he import so much confidence
and to me and in belief, like as a as
a player, like you always want your coach to believe
you feel me like, and he believes in us.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
He believes in the group.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
And you know, no matter what the outside media may
may persuade people to think about him, man, he's a
competitor as well.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
He want to win. Man, He's been great for our group.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Man.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Obviously they can say the record this or whatever it is,
but you know, he not the one out there playing.
We don't want that went out there and you know
didn't win the game.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
So I love Doc. I like what he I like
what he brings to our team.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
And he's been great for me personally, Like I can
speak for myself like he's unlocked a new clearing me
for sure, Like he's just been great for my second
half of the season with him.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Well, BP, man, I know you're in Orlando right now, correct?
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Oh yeah, what do you.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Do with Orlando? Like what I go to brook Creb,
hang out with Brooks. Okay, of course, of course.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'll be trying to think what the weather though, great
weather it is.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Well, yeah you'lid, Yeah you can't complain. Yeah, you're coming
from Milwaukee.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
So yeah, and and we had snow last I feel
I feel you. It is it is April, yeah, so
I take I take a couple of days in Florida.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
So I'm gonna let you get the rest of your
afternoon because five fifty eight over there. Yeah, get the
rest of your afternoon to the soak in the weather BP.
I just want to say, man, you know, I always
man appreciate man like you've always treated me as a
professional in this league. Man, and uh, You've always been
solid with me, bro, and I appreciate watching you play, man.
So thank you for taking this time out to hop
(24:10):
on this this podcast. And I wish you the best
of the luck. And hopefully you get more six Man
Award votes this season.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Brother, I so hope.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
So, Man, you know, I feel like I've earned that
this season. Uh you know, I feel like I put
the time in and then like I feel like I'm
important to my teams, to my team's success.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Man.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I think you know, all the voters should take that
into take that into consideration, Like you know, which one
of these guys if they take them off, they team
with the team still be the same.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Uh you know, I don't I don't.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
I don't won't speak on it, but I don't think so,
no doubt, no doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
That's Bobby Porters, Walkee Bucks Sports. Yeah, on this league.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Let's get it, y'all. Let's get it man, and that'll
do it for us. See you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
This league on cutage and iHeart radio production.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
You wouldn't suck a look up
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Christine and Mark Stein
Welcome to this League Uncut in the world of twenty
four hour NBA news. This is you, Chris Haines. It's
so telling Mark Stein, it's so time This League Uncut
is underway on five.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It should be a good one, Yes, sir, this will
be a special episode. This will be a good one
of this League Uncut podcast with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.
Mark Stein's not able to join us today is having
mechanical issues, so uh, it's all good. The show is
going to keep on rolling on. And I told you,
(00:43):
I told you guys, this week we're going to have
a special guest, and I told you. I gave you
a little clue. So it's going to be Bucks related.
So without further ado, I want to introduce to you
a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, one of the most
efficient players on that team. When the top reserves in
the entire association in the running for the sixth Man
(01:06):
of the Year award. This guy has the smooth turnaround jumper,
you can't stop it to back it up, he got
the pivots, he brings the energy. And lastly, you might
know him from a k a big bob on that
ass You know, I'm talking about the energizer buddy for
(01:28):
the Bucks. Mister Bobby Porters, how you doing, brother?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
I'm sorry, man, that's one of the best introductions I've had.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
I want.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I wanted to make you feel special, brother, you be.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Man, Yeah, but he made me feel pretty pretty damn good.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
You should, man, you have. You're having a phenomenal season. Man,
Like I said, you know, I wanted to put emphasis
on efficient because by you know, you know I played
college basketball, didn't you know? Obviously I didn't go to
the NBA. But one thing I've been noticing. I've watched
every single Bucks game. One thing I notice about you,
and it doesn't always start that way, but a lot
(02:12):
of times you end up when you coming to the game,
you end up a lot of times I don't I
haven't looked at the stats, but you end up hitting
your first shot every you know, most of the time
when you come in the game. Can you tell me, like,
when you come in the game and hit that first one,
how do you feel.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
So it's been like a thing since I was like
a kid, bro, Like, if I see just one go in, man,
that's all I really need. That's really all Hoopers do
around the world. Though, like, no matter how the game going,
no matter how you know, if you ozer for five,
oh for six, like you see worst shot go in, shoot,
it's just it's it's game time. And I think all
(02:52):
Hoopers can have tested is like you know, if you
see your first shot go in, man, you auto made
thinking there's gonna be a good night. So for me,
I just try to come in and just be efficient
as I can and to shoot the same size every night.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Now you've definitely been doing that. Man, That's one thing
I noticed. I'm like, man, every time he come in,
he hit that first one and from there, from there up,
you know, that opens up the game. And I'm like, man,
you know you ended up going on your runs and
you may hit seven or nine straight points and getting
stills and playing d And I just wanted to know, like,
how did every talk me about this role? This this
(03:28):
six man role, because most players don't they don't dream
of being a six man, right. Everybody wants to be
a starter and then you know, be a star in
that role. Usually you have to a coach has to
usually convince you to get into that role. And a
lot of times, even if they convince you to accept
(03:49):
that role, the player doesn't really accept that role and
it just never works out. How tell me about the
the maturation process you've had with that role, because it
seems like, man, you just it seemed like it just
fits you or you just know how to just fib
and he's talking about that.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
So like, Man, obviously, coming to the Bucks, you know,
the lineup was really kind of already set for real.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Man, you got Jannis, you know, you got Chris, you
got Brooken.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Then at the time when I first came here, you
had d'Arte DiVincenzo and Drew how Today as a starter.
So just being a pro man, you gotta find you
gotta find a way to impact.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Winning, to help the team win.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, not gonna lie like my role has grown
over the years. But when I first came to the Bucks, Man,
I didn't really like feel like a six man for
I just felt like one of the other guys.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
You know. You know Coase Budd used me a little different,
and uh, you know he was he was hard on me, man,
he was.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
He was great for me though, because he was always
hard on me, making sure I did all the little
things to stay on the court, you know, like getting
extra possession office of rebounding or boxing out or playing defense.
He won the first coach really just hard to buy
my defense and playing defense and being acting with your hands,
moving your feet.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Things like that.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
But as my time has progressed with the Bucks, like
the trust has grown, the camaraderie has grown, and guys
trust me enough to go out there and do what
I do. So it just makes it that much easier
for me to just come in just BEBP. I got
good teammates man, that believe in me. We all work
hard and they know how hard I work. So when
(05:34):
I come in, man, I just try to come in
and impact the game. And what better way than coming
in and trying to give a team an extra lyft
with's going.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, and you've been doing that from start to finish
this season. I know things might start off a little
bit slow for you earlier in the season, and you
just seem like you picked it up. I want to
say around to my knowledge, it seemed like around January
is when you really started to just like hit your stride.
What was it about. I know it's a different team, Dame,
(06:03):
and you know some new pieces. What was it about
that time? Were you able to turn the corner, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
To get back to the basics for real. Man, You know,
every season is different in the league. You like, like
every year I played in the league has been some
different adversity at some point, Like every year is different.
So this year from last year, you know, we were
the best team in the league. You know, we cruised
through the cruise through the regular season and then get
(06:32):
to the playoffs. We first round exit. You feel me like,
did we come to the new season? I mean, I'll
get back from Team USA, playing with them over the
summertime and get back to Milwaukee, and then suddenly I
got new We got a whole new team.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
You feel me like it just it just changed.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
And obviously adding the top seventy five player like Dame
changes everybody role kind of a little bit. To start
the season, we had to figure it out just a
little bit and figure out how we're gonna you know,
I just to implement him with us and then how
we're gonna you know, be with him and find out chemistry.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
You know. Obviously we start off the season pretty.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Good, but it was kind of hard just to find
the find a groove, find the rhythm and inconsistency at first,
and then once January came. Man, just get back to
the basics. I just got back to the gym, get
my form, shots up, and just saying, hey man, it's
just trying to hoot.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Man, stop all that thinking. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
I think when you're a basketball player, when you think
too much and think the game and try to do
all the right things throughout the game, you kind of
mess with the game a little bit and being who
you are. And I'm just a guy that goes out
there and plays point five basketball.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
If I got a shot, I take it.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
If I don't, d h O, I try to get
to rempenetrating, piss to a teammate, just pay point five ball.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Getting back to that for real.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
How challenging has this season been? You know, you've been
around the league and you face adversity, different, yeah, trials
that may come your way. In the eighty two game season,
you got a coach and change, which shocked a lot
of people because, believe you, guys were records pretty good.
I can't remember what it was at the top, but
it was good enough to get you to get to
(08:11):
have the Bucks coaching staff be the coach of the
Eastern Conference All Stars. So how challenging has this season
been with all the changes.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I mean, it's been challenging obviously. I think every season
is a challenge, to be honest.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
But you know, just as a fan.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Probably of the game, you know, you probably like, hey, like,
why can't all these players that's you know, great guys,
great great players in the league just work automatically, or
why can't this coach, you know, coach these guys up
to a standard or be.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Whatever it is. But you know, it's like it's not
a video game.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
You feel me like we are real life people, Like
we are people in real life.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Sometimes things take time.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Adversity isn't always a bad thing, you know, adversity is good.
And I know with US, man, I don't know which
team in the league has went through more adversity than
US this season. Like we've been injured most of the years,
some guys been out in and out the lineup. And
we had three different coaches obviously, we had Adrian and
Doc and Joe even coached two or three games as well,
(09:16):
Joe Prunty. So you know, I don't think many teams
been through as much as versity to the US.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
So that could be a could be a.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Great thing in the long run for US Man, especially
when playoffs coming. You know, you can hit with their
first hate maker and then you got to respond.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
That's a good way to look at it. And my
producer Ryan just sent me a text that you guys
were thirty and thirteen when Adrian Griffin was dismissed as
brought in since has brought in Doc Rivers. But yeah,
it was that was a shock to many at that time.
But BP, I want to ask you. I want to
get back to the team, but let me ask you
about this six man real quick. So you know, I
(09:54):
watched again. I watch every BUS game and I see
the contribution. It's like all these awards out there, right,
It's like a lot of voters don't get to see
watch these guys every day and they don't understand the impact.
They don't understand how vital it is. Like sometimes like
(10:15):
you have you may have a six man candidate, right VP,
but they play like real starter minutes, like they may
play like thirty five plus like they're playing starter men.
They may play more than some of the starters. And
then you have six men who come in and they
have you know, your cap on your limits you know
your your limit cap. You got to get to it exactly,
(10:38):
you get to it. So the names that we're hearing,
you know obviously your name, Bobby Porters, and then a
lot of people show a lot of love for Malik
Monk with Sacramento. And I'm not trying to ask you
to discourage any other candidates out there, but for people
who don't get to see or who choose not to
(10:58):
watch a lot of New Bus games, tell me what
it is that you provide. If you got to explain, okabp,
what is your role on this team? What do you
do for this team on a day to day basis?
Explain your season in a nutshell to people who probably
aren't informed.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Man, if I could just say one word for real, man, shit,
just just availability. I'm I'm ready every night, bro, Like
I play every game. I think the Bucks have played
eighty one games this season. We got one game left
them all. And I think Barby Reporters has played eighty
one games as well. Like I'm here, bro, like hurt
(11:38):
whatever it is I'm feeling tired or feeling sluggish, or
my elbow hurting, my knee hurting, Like I'm out here hooping, Bro,
like for real. And you know last year I got
you know, criticized a lot for starting a lot of games.
So I didn't win the award last year. So this
year I've only started three games. You know, I come
(12:00):
off the bench every night. You know, I don't talk
about the other candidates. Other guys are great, they do
great for their teams and whatever. But you know, I
just think my impact on my team. Man, It's just
a lot more different.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Man.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I'm like a heart and soul. You feel me like
I work my heart on my sleeve every single night.
You know, No coach gotta worry about trying to get
number nine hyped up.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
He come in already hyped. You feel me.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
BP. Has there been a situation where, uh, the team
might have wanted you to start to start a game
or two, You be like, nah, no, leave me on
the bitch. I gotta get this. I'm going for the
sixth Mad of War.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Nah, I think.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I think like in years past, I tried to do
that and Coach Budd still won't going. Yeah, like years past,
this year I just set up. I really want to
worry about no award or nothing like. I talked about
it a lot last year. And once I fell up
short last year kind of like I ain't gonna say discouraged.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
But it was like, dang bro I like average double
double off the bench, you say, the dude win. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
But this year I've just been trying to just take
it a day at a time. Man, it's been a
long season, up and down a lot of adversity. So
just trying to be available for my team every night,
no matter who's playing, and try to stack as many
games and stack the camaraderie you going into a postseason.
But nah, I ain't never really just been like, hey man,
(13:24):
hey doc I don't.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Want to start doc Na. I ain gonna tell them.
I'm gonna tell him that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
For those who don't know, BP's playing an average of
twenty four minutes a game, averaging just a shade under
fourteen points a game, shooting fifty percent from the field
and shooting forty percent from three with seven point four boards.
That's crazy. So you think if he's averaging starter minutes,
that's a double double easy. And the season he talked
about last year where he averaged let me see, it
(13:53):
was fourteen point one, shot forty nine percent from the field,
thirty seven percent from three and he averaged nine point
six rebound and he played almost close to two minutes
more last season per game. So that's what he's speaking
on when he's talking about just the shortcomings. And so BP,
let me let me ask you this. So we're recording
(14:13):
this on a Saturday and it's going to air Monday morning,
so you guys will already know your pecking order in
the standings, and you talk about availability, BP, and I'm
not trying to persuade you, but just hear me out.
So you talk about availability here. So if I'm looking
(14:34):
at the standings VP, and if I'm thinking because you
guys ain't been playing well over the last few weeks.
So if I'm looking at the standings, you guys as
the number two seed, you know you could potentially go
against Philly or Miami in that first round depending on
the play. In situation, right, you're at the three seed,
(14:56):
potentially Orlando or Indianna. So BP, if Doc Rivers comes
to you and says, BP, I'm sorry, I know availability
is important to you, but uh, I think I think
I like our chances better at number three seed, and
(15:17):
so we gotta sit you.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
No, I'm probably if that's the case for real.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
I'm gonna I'm gonna check in and check out like did.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, I gotta get my eighty that's fair.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
But BP, you know, I gotta get this.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You get that, Don and I and I commend you
on that, BP, but you know, but BP, you know
you come in and out. Now your your points per
game is dropping.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, it's all about being healthy.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
It's all about being healthy going into the postseason and
being a pro man. That's part of the gig man
is being able to be coachable, being able to understand
situations and being under and being able to to understand
the bigger picture man, like the bigger picture and this
is that you know, we're trying to get to June
and it is April, and that is two months away.
(16:11):
So being smart about the things and being coachable to
what the coaches and training staff and front office has
already scouted for us, they'll be the smart thing. But
I think were hooping them all though, for sure, I
think we think Yeah, I think we.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So b How do you how do you guys view
the standards? Like, how do you guys look at those matchups?
Because I love it, bro, I love it.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I love it this year because you got to think
about it like, no matter if your first, second, third,
or fourth, like whoever you get, man like, you're getting
a good opponent.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
You feel me. So it's not like like you've a
duck somebody or we're.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Gonna lose this game in that game because we don't
want to play such and such.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
No, if you're three, you still play Indiana.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
They nice. If you four, you still play the Magic.
They're gonna play hard to give you a great game.
If you want, you might Miami, if you wanted to,
you may play Miami or Philly, no matter where you're at,
Like like you you're gonna get a get a great opponent.
And it's only this this this playoff is gonna be
lit man like for TV purposes, for matchup purposes, the
(17:15):
storyline that's.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Gonna get built. I'm a fan of the game.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I love basketball, So this playoff is gonna be jumping
man like. It's gonna be some great matchups, and it's
gonna be some mussy TV like think about it, like
the Clippers and the Clippers of Dallas, Like that's already
locked up, Like that's a lot of buckets. Bro like
you know what I'm saying, Like that's must ce TV.
Like it's just as a fan of the game, speaking
as a fan, like this.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
This playoff is gonna be jumping man. Who wanted more?
That's always gonna be this year who wanted.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So you got the elephant in the room? Is Gianni
out with the cap injury miss the remains in three
games of the regular season. Uh, how how optimistic are
you that you have the big fella back when when
the playoffs start.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
I really haven't heard much about the situation obviously, Like
nobody ever wants to see, like nobody get hurt, whether
it's your teammate, whether it's somebody like on another team.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Like, you know, this game is beautiful.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
We all play it to provide and play it to
uh you know, obviously because we love the game. But
you know, obviously it sucks to you know, not have
one of the best players in the league obviously available.
Uh we don't know the situation and in entirety, but
can only send thoughts and prayers out to him for
a speedy recovery, however long it takes. And our main
(18:45):
job is to keep the main thing, the main thing,
basketball stay of the same man, you know, go out
there and play, play the game the right way, trust
each other and all the things we went through all season. Uh,
you know it's time to you know, just put it
on display in these playoffs.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Man.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
But like I said, I don't know much about the situation,
haven't heard much. But hopefully everything all right. Hopefully everything
all right with big fella.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
What there's a lot of people who have jumped off
the Bucks bandwagon, especially over the last few weeks. Why, obviously,
you guys will still believe, you know, you guys are competitors.
But what gives y'all hope, you know, especially what happened
all season long has never really been you know, you
(19:32):
guys have had spurts, but never really clicked for a
long periods of time. And then the way you're ending
the season is not not you know, the optimal way.
What gives you, guys hope that you guys can make
a run and not just a run because this team
is built to win a championship. What gives you guys
hope that you guys still can pursue and accomplish something
(19:52):
like that.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I would say, like just as a fan of the game,
like like nobody really talked about like Denver last year
when they I was like eight out of fifteen games
in the season, like they lost, like nah the sixteen
eight out of fifteen games, and to see nobody like.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Ever brought it up.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
So it's like with us, like we just take it
with a grain of salt for real, Like that's the
outside world's you know, views and.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
How they view us whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
But you know, teams go through slumps, teams go through adversity,
and like I said, man, we just sold battle testing.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Man, we didn't been through everything this season.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Man, we didn't have three coaches, We didn't went to
Vegas like like we didn't.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Like we didn't been everywhere. Like it's like it's crazy,
like like for real, like with the Vegas doing scenes,
like bro, we didn't. We didn't did everything this year.
Like it's been crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
So I think what keeps us optimistic about our chances
just the makeup of our team. Man, our team is
very very very fucking resilient with everything. Uh, you know,
we together, our camaraderie is is great. Sometimes we just
have we had to those lapses during throughout the season
where it didn't look right.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
But with us.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Uh, you know, I think the best thing coming up
is you know, it's playoff ball. Every game matters, and
the makeup of our room is champions. You know, we
got battle tested guys that's been there before. So I'm
not worried at all, man, just more more so, just
want to take it to day at a time, thinking
or trying to get to ahead of what's to come.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And BP Bobby Porter's here with us on this league
and cut last question for you, Doc Rivers, since he's
come on board, what had what has his presence been
like in the locker room, in the organization. You just
talk about him being a part of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Man, Like I got so much respect for Doc man
just I never really knew him before, Like like my
favorite player is Kevin Garnett, Like it's my favorite basketball player.
I try to immolate him a lot on the court
and do things, shoot fase, whatever it is.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
But that's my god.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Man.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
You know Doc's cool, bro, Like he.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Done did so much for me just his time being here,
building the confidence in me, Like I'm extra confident and
I don't see like if people watch me, who like
I'm just extra confident, Like he import so much confidence
and to me and in belief, like as a as
a player, like you always want your coach to believe
you feel me like, and he believes in us.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
He believes in the group.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
And you know, no matter what the outside media may
may persuade people to think about him, man, he's a
competitor as well.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
He want to win. Man, He's been great for our group.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Man.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Obviously they can say the record this or whatever it is,
but you know, he not the one out there playing.
We don't want that went out there and you know
didn't win the game.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
So I love Doc. I like what he I like
what he brings to our team.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
And he's been great for me personally, Like I can
speak for myself like he's unlocked a new clearing me
for sure, Like he's just been great for my second
half of the season with him.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Well, BP, man, I know you're in Orlando right now, correct?
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Oh yeah, what do you.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Do with Orlando? Like what I go to brook Creb,
hang out with Brooks. Okay, of course, of course.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'll be trying to think what the weather though, great
weather it is.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Well, yeah you'lid, Yeah you can't complain. Yeah, you're coming
from Milwaukee.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
So yeah, and and we had snow last I feel
I feel you. It is it is April, yeah, so
I take I take a couple of days in Florida.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
So I'm gonna let you get the rest of your
afternoon because five fifty eight over there. Yeah, get the
rest of your afternoon to the soak in the weather BP.
I just want to say, man, you know, I always
man appreciate man like you've always treated me as a
professional in this league. Man, and uh, You've always been
solid with me, bro, and I appreciate watching you play, man.
So thank you for taking this time out to hop
(24:10):
on this this podcast. And I wish you the best
of the luck. And hopefully you get more six Man
Award votes this season.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Brother, I so hope.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
So, Man, you know, I feel like I've earned that
this season. Uh you know, I feel like I put
the time in and then like I feel like I'm
important to my teams, to my team's success.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Man.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I think you know, all the voters should take that
into take that into consideration, Like you know, which one
of these guys if they take them off, they team
with the team still be the same.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Uh you know, I don't I don't.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
I don't won't speak on it, but I don't think so,
no doubt, no doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
That's Bobby Porters, Walkee Bucks Sports. Yeah, on this league.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Let's get it, y'all. Let's get it man, and that'll
do it for us. See you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
This league on cutage and iHeart radio production.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
You wouldn't suck a look up
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Christine and Mark Stein
Fox Sports Radio News
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.