Milwaukee Bucks star Bobby Portis has declined his $13.4 million player option for next season and has chosen to stay with the Bucks on a three-year, $44 million contract, his agent confirmed.

Portis, 30, has been loved by fans since he joined the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020-21 season and won the championship with the team. Not only has he been nominated for the "Sixth Man of the Year" many times, but he has also become an important source of firepower for the team's bench with his tenacious fighting spirit and stable performance.

Last season, Portis played 49 games for the team, averaging 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Even though he was suspended for 25 games for accidentally taking banned drugs, Portis still insisted that it was "accidental use to treat his elbow" and worked hard to prove himself again after his comeback.

The past season was particularly difficult for Portis, who briefly left the team due to the death of his grandmother and his home was burglarized during that time, which was full of challenges both on and off the court. However, he still faced the difficulties with a positive attitude, showing the tenacity of a professional player.

Since joining the Milwaukee Bucks, Portis has averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in five seasons, with a shooting percentage of 49.4% and a three-point shooting percentage of 39.7%. He entered the NBA in 2015 and played for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and New York Knicks before finally finding his home in the Milwaukee Bucks.

Portis's stay will provide stability for the Milwaukee Bucks' interior rotation. At a time when the future of the team is still unclear, Portis's contract extension not only consolidates the core lineup of the Milwaukee Bucks, but also once again demonstrates his loyalty to the city and the team.