The Milwaukee Bucks returned to the loss column Sunday night, suffering a lopsided defeat at home to the Orlando Magic without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was resting his calf.
Giannis had recently come back from a lengthy injury layoff, even as speculation about his future in Milwaukee continued to circulate.
Bucks power forward Bobby Portis, appeared on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show and gave a vague answer when asked about his confidence that Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to Milwaukee next season.
Bobby Portis shares where he's at on a 1-10 scale of how confident he is Giannis returns to the Bucks 👀
"I'm at a 5, right there in the middle…it's up in the air."@BPortistime | @MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/1veSk1Keg6
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 9, 2026
“I’m at a 5, right there in the middle…it’s up in the air,” the Bucks forward commented via Run It Back’s post on X (formerly Twitter).
That hardly comes across as a strong vote of confidence in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks, the city where he captured a championship in 2021.
Bobby Portis on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks
Dec 27, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) slaps hands with forward Bobby Portis (9) during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
“The goal has always been championship, I don’t know what the outlook is for next year. I don’t know what Jon (Horst) and his staff are going to put together. Make the roster better, make us better, so we can compete for a championship next year,”
Many thought the Bucks might part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the recent NBA trade deadline, as it was increasingly clear that this season’s roster was nowhere near capable of competing for a title.
Mar 8, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) sits on the bench while not playing against the Orlando Magic at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Milwaukee chose to retain the Greek Freak past the trade deadline, but it’s unclear whether that signals a long term commitment or is simply a decision to wait until the summer, when other teams can present more attractive offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Analysts have urged the Bucks to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season to improve their draft positioning, but the star has clearly rejected that idea.
“It’s gonna be a super lingering thing all summer long,” Portis concluded.