Bucks' Bobby Portis Provides Insight on Cam Thomas' Surprising Exit

Portis expresses sympathy for the young guard after his short-lived stint with Milwaukee.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:12am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the chaos and complexity of the situation described in the story.Portis' empathy for Thomas' abrupt exit from the Bucks reflects the human side of roster decisions in a chaotic NBA season.Chicago Today

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis offered insight into the team's decision to waive guard Cam Thomas earlier this season. Portis acknowledged the 'chaos' in Milwaukee that led to Thomas' release, expressing sympathy for the young player's situation and belief that he will find success elsewhere.

Why it matters

Thomas' brief tenure with the Bucks highlighted the challenges facing a team struggling to remain in playoff contention. Portis' comments provide a window into the human side of roster decisions, as the veteran forward empathizes with the difficulties a young player can face when a team is in turmoil.

The details

Thomas played in 18 games for the Bucks, averaging 10.7 points and 1.9 assists per game, before the team decided to waive him. Portis, who appeared on the 'Run It Back' podcast, explained that Thomas 'just fell into the chaos of everything going on' in Milwaukee, which has a 29-45 record and is out of playoff contention.

  • On March 30, Portis made his comments on the Run It Back podcast.
  • Thomas was waived by the Bucks earlier this season, after playing 18 games for the team.

The players

Bobby Portis

A veteran forward for the Milwaukee Bucks who provided insight into the team's decision to waive Cam Thomas.

Cam Thomas

A young guard who was waived by the Bucks earlier this season after a short-lived stint with the team.

Milwaukee Bucks

An NBA team that is currently struggling, with a 29-45 record and out of playoff contention.

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What they’re saying

“I just hate it happened to Cam … I think something good down the line is going to come toward him. He just got to keep his head down and keep working. He just fell into the chaos of everything going on (in Milwaukee). Cam's a good dude, though.”

— Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks Forward

“Sad that he got waived at a time where he can't sign with a playoff team and show what he can do to impact winning, but something good is going to come to good.”

— Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks Forward

What’s next

The Bucks will look to end their four-game losing streak when they host the Dallas Mavericks on March 31 at 8 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Portis' comments provide a human perspective on the difficult roster decisions teams face, especially when struggling. His empathy for Thomas highlights the challenges young players can encounter when joining a team in turmoil, and suggests that Thomas may find more success elsewhere.