Ranking the NBA’s 10 most underrated players in 2022-23

9. F Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis is appreciated by his fans and his franchise, which rewarded him after he played a role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ first title in 50 years. On a grander stage, however, Portis doesn’t get as much consideration.

Portis has been in the league for a minute. He was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 2015. The Bucks are the fourth team for the big man, who has never left the Eastern Conference; he also played in Washington and New York.

While he’s had occasional starring moments with the Bulls and Wizards, he’s mostly been tied to a role on the bench. That can sometimes betray the national perception of what Portis brings to the table.

Take last season. Portis was a starter, something many people probably didn’t know. He averaged a career-high 14.6 points per game and was a handful of rebounds shy of averaging a double-double for the season. But he didn’t get the attention any of the Bucks’ better players get (to some degree, rightfully so).

Milwaukee didn’t come close to letting Portis walk over the summer. A day after he exercised his option to become an unrestricted free agent, he already had a new deal in place: four years and $49 million. Among Milwaukee players signed through 2026, only Giannis Antetokoumpo carries a higher average salary.

The Mayor of Milwaukee is largely tethered to the bench once again this year, but he’s having a strong season, currently averaging the elusive double-double in points and rebounds. Portis has also been a pest on defense, and his defensive rating ranks in the top ten in the league.

Considering his salary and local reputation, Portis is probably just fine operating in the shadows of the Greek Freak.