When Jerami Grant dropped 35 points on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 24, 2025, no one expected it to be the turning point in Portland’s season. Not after his 14.4-point average last year. Not after the Blazers traded away their best shooters. Not after they lost to Oklahoma City the night before. But there he was — falling backward, draining threes, and turning a 10-point game into a 33-point rout. The Portland Trail Blazers won 115-103, handing the Bucks their fifth straight loss and proving, at least for now, that Grant might be the unlikeliest catalyst in the Western Conference.
From Afterthought to Anchor
Just six months ago, Jerami Grant was seen as a salary dump waiting to happen. The Portland Trail Blazers had signed him to a $102.6 million contract through 2028, and fans questioned why they’d pay so much for a player who shot 37% from deep and barely made the All-Defensive team. Rip City Project called him "one of the biggest negative assets" heading into 2025-26. But something shifted. After being moved to the bench to make room for rising guard Shaedon Sharpe — who’s now out for the season with a torn hamstring — Grant responded with quiet intensity. He averaged 18.3 points in November before exploding in Milwaukee: 15 at halftime, 35 by the final buzzer, 16-of-19 from the line, and four threes in the second half. "People who cover the league thought every team that passed on him were insane," said one announcer on the Blazers’ YouTube highlight. "And oh, JG, that’s insane. Falling away to the floor and the blaz. He agrees."Where the Bucks Crumbled
The Milwaukee Bucks were already reeling. Without Giannis Antetokounmpo — sidelined for the third straight game with a left adductor strain — their offense became a one-man show. Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma combined for 37 points, but the team’s rhythm vanished after the third quarter. Portland’s 18-0 run, starting with 1:42 left in the third and stretching into the fourth, turned a 74-84 deficit into a 102-74 lead. The Bucks didn’t score for 5:17. They turned it over five times. Their bench looked lost. Even Myles Turner, acquired this summer in the Damian Lillard trade, managed just 13 points and 11 rebounds — a solid night, but not enough to carry a team that’s now 3-8 since Giannis went down.The Ghost of Lillard in Milwaukee
The game carried more weight than stats. This was Portland’s first visit to Fiserv Forum since Damian Lillard — the face of the franchise for 12 years — was traded to Milwaukee in 2023, then waived this summer to free up cap space for Turner. Lillard, still recovering from a torn Achilles, sat courtside in a gray hoodie, arms crossed, watching. He didn’t play. Didn’t speak. But his presence loomed. The Bucks gave him a standing ovation when he entered. He nodded. No smile. No wave. Just silence. And for Portland fans? Seeing him there, alive in the building he once ruled, made Grant’s performance feel like more than just a win. It felt like a passing of the torch — not to a new star, but to a new identity.
What This Means for Portland’s Future
The Blazers are still years away from contention. They’re without five rotation players: Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle, and Blake Wesley. Yet they’re 2-5 in their last seven. And now? Grant is averaging 21.8 points over the last 10 games. His shooting efficiency has jumped from 41% to 49% from the field. Teams are starting to notice. Rumors are swirling that Milwaukee — desperate to replace Giannis’ production — might consider a trade for Grant, even with his massive contract. But here’s the twist: Portland might not want to move him. Not now. Not with the team’s young core still developing. With Deni Avdija (22 points) and Donovan Clingan (14 points, 12 rebounds) stepping up, the Blazers have a new, gritty identity. One built on defense, hustle, and the unexpected rise of a player everyone wrote off.What’s Next?
Portland faces the Lakers on Wednesday, then the Jazz on Friday. If Grant keeps this up, the trade rumors will intensify. But if the Blazers win three of their next four, they might just stay put — and let him become the cornerstone they never planned to have. Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s front office has three weeks to decide: do they trade for a stopgap, or do they accept that this season is already lost without Giannis? The clock is ticking.
Background: The Contract That Started It All
Grant signed his $102.6 million deal in 2023, a contract many called bloated. He was coming off a 14.4-point season with the 76ers, and Portland, desperate for veteran leadership, overpaid. But the team’s philosophy shifted after the Lillard trade. They stopped chasing stars and started building through grit. Grant, once seen as a luxury, became a necessity. His contract now looks less like a mistake and more like a gamble that’s paying off. The Blazers owe him $35 million next season alone — but with Avdija and Clingan emerging, and rookie point guard A.J. Griffin showing flashes, they might not need to trade him at all. They might just need to wait.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jerami Grant’s performance change this season compared to last year?
Last season, Grant averaged 14.4 points on 37% shooting from the field and 37% from three — numbers that made him a candidate for a buyout. This season, he’s averaging 21.8 points over his last 10 games, shooting 49% from the field and 41% from deep. His free-throw accuracy has also improved from 85% to 89%, and he’s taking 4.2 more shots per game. The difference? More offensive freedom, better spacing, and a renewed role as a primary scorer after being moved to the bench.
Why is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence so damaging to the Bucks?
Without Giannis, Milwaukee’s offensive rating drops from 118.3 to 104.7 — a 13-point swing. He’s their primary playmaker, rebounder, and finisher, accounting for 32% of their points and 28% of their assists. His absence forces players like Kuzma and Portis into roles they’re not built for, and the team’s ball movement collapses. Since he’s been out, the Bucks are 1-4, with their defense ranking 27th in the league over that span.
What’s the significance of Damian Lillard being at the game?
Lillard’s presence was symbolic. He spent 12 years as Portland’s franchise player before being traded to Milwaukee in 2023, then waived this summer to help them sign Myles Turner. His return to Fiserv Forum — still recovering from a torn Achilles — was his first time back since the trade. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, but he didn’t react. For Portland fans, Grant’s breakout felt like a quiet tribute: the team’s new identity, forged without him, finally showing its strength.
Could the Bucks trade for Jerami Grant now?
Theoretically, yes — but it’s unlikely. Grant’s $102.6 million contract over three seasons is a massive burden, and Milwaukee is already over the cap. They’d need to clear salary to make a deal, and no other team would take his contract without a significant asset in return. Plus, Grant’s value is rising — Portland might prefer to keep him as a trade chip for a younger player or draft picks later this season.
What’s Portland’s path to contention with this roster?
The Blazers aren’t close to being contenders yet. But with Grant playing like an All-Star, Avdija developing into a 20-point scorer, and Donovan Clingan emerging as a defensive anchor, they’re building a foundation. Their ceiling depends on the health of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe — both out for the season — and whether they can land a franchise point guard in the 2026 draft. If Grant keeps this up, they might not need to trade him. They might just need to wait.
How did Portland win without five key players?
They leaned on defense and depth. With Holiday, Henderson, Sharpe, Thybulle, and Wesley all out, Portland’s starting lineup had an average age of 24.5 and zero All-Stars. But they forced 21 turnovers, held Milwaukee to 38% shooting in the second half, and got 36 points from their bench — led by Avdija and Clingan. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. Sometimes, winning without stars means playing harder than everyone else.
