Tue Jul 01 15:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided information:

**Milwaukee Bucks Retain Fan Favorite Bobby Portis with New $44 Million Deal**

MILWAUKEE, WI – The Milwaukee Bucks are keeping a key piece of their championship core, agreeing to a three-year, $44 million contract with forward Bobby Portis, ESPN’s sources reported Sunday. Portis, a beloved figure in Milwaukee, will also have a player option for the 2027-28 season.

The deal comes after Portis declined his $13.4 million player option for the upcoming season. His agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, negotiated the new contract with the Bucks.

Portis, 30, has been a consistent presence off the bench for the Bucks over the last five seasons, becoming a fan favorite for his energy and scoring punch. He finished in the top three in Sixth Man of the Year voting in both 2023 and 2024, underscoring his importance to the team’s success.

Despite a shortened season last year due to a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, Portis still averaged 13.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game. He remains one of the few holdovers from the Bucks’ 2021 championship-winning team.

Over the past three seasons, Portis has tallied an impressive 2,181 points off the bench, placing him third in the NBA in that category, trailing only Malik Monk and Naz Reid. The Bucks’ decision to retain Portis signals their commitment to maintaining a strong supporting cast around their star players as they aim to contend for another NBA title.

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