Porter Jr. Clears Day-to-Day List as Bucks Camp Hits Its…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Friday, October 2

Kevin Porter Jr. shed his day-to-day tag on Oct. 1, clearing him for a camp that just finished its third straight high-intensity session with the full roster on the floor. Milwaukee's four-game preseason schedule opens Oct. 5, with the Oct. 21 regular-season opener at Washington now three weeks away.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Milwaukee closed 2025-26 at 32-50, and the frontcourt depth chart kept shifting in the final stretch. Pete Nance averaged 28.2 minutes a night over his last five games, and Jericho Sims climbed to 32.6 a night over his own final five, nearly 13 more than his season rate. Both marks point to a staff already testing who holds up behind the starters.

This month

September brought roster churn: Malique Lewis left the team on Sept. 21, trimming the listed group to twenty-one, while Jake Stephens signed on as a center on Sept. 17. The moves left Milwaukee's frontcourt rotation unsettled heading into the final week of camp.

Oct. 1

Kevin Porter Jr. was cleared from the day-to-day list on Oct. 1, ending his spot on the injury report. The same day, the club wrapped a third straight high-intensity practice with every player participating, and new wing Caris LeVert said he welcomes the fresh start after his run in Detroit wound down.

This week

Preseason opens Oct. 5 at home against the Timberwolves, with trips to Oklahoma City on Oct. 7 and Charlotte on Oct. 11, then a home date with Chicago on Oct. 14. Those four games double as auditions for a frontcourt rotation still sorting out minutes behind Turner.

Next Milwaukee's preseason opener comes Oct. 5 against Minnesota, with the regular-season opener set for Oct. 21 at Washington.

Is Kevin Porter Jr. healthy for the Bucks this preseason?

Yes. He was cleared from the day-to-day injury list on Oct. 1, ahead of Milwaukee's preseason opener.

When do the Bucks play their first preseason game?

Oct. 5 at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the first of a four-game preseason slate that runs through Oct. 14.