Bobby Portis took a chance on himself after his stint with the Washington Wizards, inking a two-year, $31 million deal with the New York Knicks to prove his doubters wrong in this upcoming 2019-20 season.
The Arkansas native envisions himself as more than just a role player, but a prominent one that can put his thumbprint in games and surprise those who doubt his ability as an up-and-coming stretch four.
“If I could look ahead a little bit, I could see myself being an All-Star one day,” Portis told Alex Squadron of SLAM Magazine. “That’s my goal. I want to be an All-Star. If you asked a thousand people, I bet you most of them would say I’m crazy to say that. But that’s that underdog mentality that you have to have. I know that when I step out there, there’s a lot of people that doubt me.
“You know, I love being doubted.”
Portis averaged 14.2 points and 8.1 rebounds in his fourth season in the league, one he split between the Chicago Bulls and the Wizards.
Now in New York, Portis could potentially man a prominent role, getting more minutes and more plays drawn for him to excel, as the Knicks' contingency plan consisted in bolstering this team with capable players that could muster better than last season's league-worst record.
Portis has double-double potential written all over him if given the right minutes, as his never-ending motors and now-refined skill set will only reap more fruits the more he sees the court from here on out.
If that's indeed the case, an All-Star nod in the Eastern Conference won't be too far from reality for Portis.
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