Portis is approaching this season with his eyes wide open
NEW YORK — At first, Bobby Portis didn’t appreciate the jokes about his eyes. Who enjoys having a physical characteristic turn into a gag? His mom definitely didn’t. Portis even tried to control it.
But social media is unavoidable these days, and Portis ultimately decided to embrace the image of his wide open “crazy” eyes. He even started selling tshirts.
“It was harsh jokes, but after a while I took the jokes and made it something cool and people just bought into it,” Portis said in an interview with the Daily News.
“Crazy Eyes” Portis became a thing his second season in Chicago, and then, to a lesser extent, in Washington last season. Now he’s with the Knicks, and his biggest moment with the new club a goahead 3pointer in the final moments of an October victory over the Bulls — became a memeable moment because of the way his eyes fixated on the ball in midair.
“I can’t control it. I try to. I just be myself,” Portis, 24, said. “People probably made a joke out of it in college, my mom hated it a lot. Because they started talking about my eyes and stuff on TV. And social media talked crazy about it.”
Portis, despite what his eyes might suggest, is not crazy. He can be demonstrative on the court and flex his muscle after a putback, but he’s about as pleasant and lowkey as any player in an interview setting. He also has an appreciation for his circumstances after growing up in Little Rock, Ark., a place that gained gangland infamy with a 1994 documentary, ‘Bangin’ in Little
Rock.’
“It’s still like that there. It’s just not as bad as it used to be. It’s like a little Chicago. You know how Chicago has the murders and things, that’s how my city is,” Portis said. “It’s not anything to brag about but it’s true. And if you’re not from there don’t come there, that’s one of the things that everybody from my city says. It’s tough growing up there but I think that makes you appreciate things more, knowing where I’m at now and how my family is doing now, it’s a great feeling.”
Portis is making $15 million this season with the Knicks and has solidified a spot in the exclusive NBA club, but acknowledges he could’ve fallen another way.
“When you have friends that kind of get caught up in being a product of their environment and they kind of get trapped into that whole scene,” Portis said. “In my city, people either go three ways: you got the streets, try to play sports or try to rap. Only three things that you could really do. And I went my way. Everybody called me crazy for saying I could make the NBA. Because I wasn’t the best player in my state, best player growing up.”
Portis’ big break, like many NBA players, was a growth spurt. He said it happened overnight — a rise in 10th grade of about six inches to 6foot8 and carried a knot on his head as proof.
“Wake up one morning, and hit my head on the doorway,” Portis said. “I’m like, ‘What the hell?’”
Portis was never a toprated prospect but developed into the SEC Player of the Year while at the University of Arkansas. He was picked 22nd overall by the Bulls in 2015, and mostly sat the bench his first two seasons.
At that time, the Bulls were an established veteran squad under coach Tom Thibodeau, and Portis had to wait his turn behind Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson.
“As a human being, it’s impossible not to think the worst of a situation. And I would think, ‘Damn, did I make a bad decision coming into the league?’ Should I have stayed in college one more year?” Portis said.
Portis earned more playing time but nearly derailed his career by punching Bulls teammate Nikola Mirotic in the face during a 2017 practice. Reports suggested the two were trash talking, and Mirotic charged at Portis twice before being slugged. Mirotic suffered a fractured face and concussion. Portis was suspended eight games.
Suddenly, the ‘Crazy Eyes’ became more menacing than playful.
“I just tell everybody, it’s misunderstood. You had to be there to see it,” Portis said. “People made it bigger than it was. That’s sometimes how the media does it. I’m not running from that. That kind of made my name hot a little bit, if you want to say that.”
In Portis’ career at least so far that was an isolated incident. In his sixseason career, he’s totaled just four flagrants and 11 technicals. He’s been more of a scorer than an enforcer. His time with the Knicks, however, has been marred by inconsistency, largely due to his struggling shot and defense.
Before Monday’s game against the Wizards, Portis was averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 boards while shooting 43%. He had big nights of scoring 30 and 28 points, but disappeared from other games.
Regardless of how it turns out, or how long he lasts in New York on his expiring contract, Portis is approaching this campaign with his eyes wide open.
“I’m kind of really thankful for my journey,” he told Slam Magazine before the season. “I think my journey is what made me the underdog.”