Marques Johnson voiced the incredulity of Bucks fans everywhere with his reaction to referees upholding Ausar Thompson’s head chop on Kevin Porter Jr. as a common foul in the second quarter of Milwaukee’s game against the Pistons. Seeking a flagrant, Doc Rivers challenged the call, but head official Tony Brothers delivered a surprising post-review verdict at the podium:
“After review, the contact to the head does not rise to the level of flagrant foul. Therefore it’s a common foul. Will be two shots.”
Ausar Thompson hits KPJ in the face not once but twice got to be one of the dirtiest players in the NBA pic.twitter.com/o7VJAvcuIf
— Fish Middleton (@FishMiddleton22) December 4, 2025
That announcement was greeted with a rain of boos from the Fiserv Forum crowd as well as an amusing, on-air lampoon from Johnson.
Johnson’s hilarious tirade has a point
“You’re kidding me. You gotta be kidding me,” Johnson interrupted as Brothers neared the end of his statement. “What? What? Oh, because his head is still connected to his neck? Is that the criteria that we’re working with now? His head’s not rolling on the floor?”
Dec 3, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (7) starts to celebrate a Milwaukee Bucks win over the Detroit Pistons 113-109 at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Although the Bucks didn’t get free throws plus the ball, as in a flagrant scenario, Porter sank his two shots to make it 39-31 Pistons in a game Milwaukee miraculously came back to win despite losing Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury three minutes in. In his absence, Porter led the Bucks with 26 points plus seven assists.
Outrage over the call, aside from the fact that on most nights, involving most teams, it would be enough to draw a flagrant penalty, results partly from rising angst over the way the Bucks have been officiated early this season. Whereas officials are reluctant to call even the most physical contact on Giannis, other teams seemingly get the benefit of the doubt at every turn.
In the eyes of fans, other Milwaukee players have not gotten a fair whistle, either. It only adds to the fermenting frustration and cynicism at the NBA’s perceived treatment of the small-market Bucks.
Nov 26, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers watches from the sideline against the Miami Heat during the second half of an NBA Cup game at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Venting on their behalf, Johnson wasn’t done. “His head’s rolling on the floor, but it’s not exactly a flagrant, because his head is not rolling fast enough. Are you kidding me?”
Perhaps as a Thursday morning, in the wake of an improbable win, Porter’s noggin has finally come to a stop somewhere on the Fiserv Forum floor.
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