Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. likely out for season with knee injury

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers says he would be 'surprised' if KPJ plays again this year.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:12pm

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. is likely out for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season due to a right knee injury. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said he would be 'surprised' if Porter plays again this season after missing nine of the last 12 games with right knee synovitis, the same knee he had meniscus surgery on in October.

Why it matters

The Bucks are nine games back of the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, effectively out of playoff contention. With the team playing for next season, they are likely to take a cautious approach with Porter's recovery to ensure he is fully healthy for the 2026-27 campaign.

The details

Porter has only been able to suit up for 38 games this season due to the knee issues. When healthy, he has put up some of the best numbers of his career, averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. However, the latest setback with right knee synovitis has sidelined him for the majority of the second half of the season.

  • Porter last played on March 17.
  • The Bucks were officially eliminated from playoff contention today.

The players

Kevin Porter Jr.

A 25-year-old guard for the Milwaukee Bucks who is likely out for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season due to a right knee injury.

Doc Rivers

The head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks who said he would be 'surprised' if Porter played again this season.

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What they’re saying

“It's quite possible we've seen the last of Kevin Porter Jr. in 2025–26.”

— Eric Nehm, Reporter

“I would be surprised if [Porter] plays again this season.”

— Doc Rivers, Head Coach

What’s next

The Bucks will likely take a cautious approach with Porter's recovery in order to ensure he is fully healthy for the 2026-27 season. Porter holds a $5.4 million player option for next season, and if he declines it, the Bucks will have his Bird rights and access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception to potentially re-sign him.

The takeaway

This latest injury setback for Kevin Porter Jr. is a disappointing development for the Bucks, who were hoping he could build on his strong individual performance this season. However, with the team out of playoff contention, the focus will shift to getting Porter fully healthy for next year, whether that's in Milwaukee or elsewhere.