The 2025-26 season for the Milwaukee Bucks carried steady pressure, both on the court and beyond it, as speculation about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future followed the team for months. Power forward Bobby Portis recently spoke about that noise and explained how the ongoing rumors affected the mood inside the locker room.
“The last time I talked about this, I said it was a relief that he spoke in a way that shows he doesn’t want to leave, and we can all breathe a little easier in general. I think there was so much pressure on our team this year, with so many external media talking about Giannis possibly leaving the Bucks, requesting a trade, or people pushing that narrative, which affects the team players,” Portis remarked during his appearance on Run It Back on FanDuelTV.
The Bucks found themselves at the center of trade speculation as the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga continued to build momentum leading up to the deadline.
“The guys feel that pressure, especially playing with the Bucks, playing with an all-time player. There are always narratives about winning, whether the players around him are the right ones, or if the organization is still right for him. There is a lot at stake,”
Bobby Portis on the Bucks locker room amid Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
Jan 27, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Bobby Portis explained that every loss seemed to fuel more speculation, which only added to the pressure and tightened the atmosphere inside the locker room
“If we lost two games in a row, the conversations intensified. If we lost three, four, or five, it magnified: maybe this is not the team, these players maybe don’t fit, and maybe he doesn’t want to be here anymore. When you logged into social media or turned on the TV, you saw Giannis’ face circulating—maybe he was going to the Warriors, the Heat, the Timberwolves. You couldn’t escape it for a month and a half, six weeks. Every time you went online, you saw it. Every time you turned on the TV, you saw it. It was real,” the Bucks forward continued.
Nov 13, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) reacts with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) after scoring a basket in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Portis admitted that the steady wave of media pressure and talk of a potential Giannis trade shaped how the team was viewed and weighed on player morale. His comments highlighted how outside storylines can seep into the locker room and impact even a veteran group.