Giannis Antetokounmpo and a potential trade from the Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the talking points for a major part of the NBA 2025-2026 season.
The Bucks superstar and the team have been in the spotlight ever since reports emerged that the franchise was looking to deal its cornerstone ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. This saw his teammates in the spotlight, and one of them was Bobby Portis.
Bobby Portis Reveals How the Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Drama Affected the Bucks
Speaking on the latest episode of “Run it Back,” Bobby Portis shed light on how the Bucks had to deal with the relentless Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.
“If we lost two games in a row, the talks intensified. If we lost three, four, five in a row, it got magnified: this might not be the team, these players might not fit, and he might not want to be here anymore. Once you log on to social media or turn on the TV, you see Giannis’ face circulating, maybe he’s going here… rumors with the Warriors, the Heat, the Timberwolves. You couldn’t duck it for a month and a half, six weeks.”
Portis recalled how the Bucks superstar was the cynosure of all eyes when Antetokounmpo had clarified about remaining in the Bucks. “I think there was so much pressure on our team this year, with so much outside media about Giannis leaving the Bucks, him requesting a trade, or people pushing that narrative, and it gets to the guys on the team.”
The big man added that his teammates felt the pressure, especially after the Eastern Conference side was in the spotlight all the time. The lead-up to the 2026 trade deadline was all about Antetokounmpo and his next home in the NBA. The likes of the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and the Golden State Warriors were all linked to the two-time NBA MVP, even as the Bucks continued to be in freefall during the phase.
At the time of writing, the buzz about his future in the Bucks continues to do the rounds as the side looks to strike consistency and generate some momentum after the All-Star break. The Bucks are out of a playoff berth at this point, with a 24-31 record. They are 11th in the East, and will need to win a major chunk of their remaining 27 games to at least make a case for the postseason.
Their recent outcome was a blowout 122-94 loss to the Toronto Raptors at home. It doesn’t help that they are without Antetokounmpo, who remains sidelined with a right calf strain. There is no definitive timetable for his return.
