Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis made an appearance on the “Run It Back” show on FanDuel, joined by hosts Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams, where he discussed his future and the future of another certain Bucks staple.
“I don’t really see any movement, see anything happening, man,” Portis said when asked about what he foresaw for Giannis Antetokounmpo next season. “I think he’s staying put with the Bucks. That’s just my personal opinion.”
Antetokounmpo remains under contract with the Bucks for the next two seasons, followed by a year with a player option.
“I just think that ultimately, when you’ve been on a team for a decade-plus and you’ve done so much for a city … low-key, basketball in Milwaukee wasn’t a thing until Giannis became who he was, for real,” he said. “When you put that much effort into a franchise, that much trust and belief and being loyal for so long … I just feel like he bleeds green, man.
“I think he’s staying put with the Bucks. That’s just my personal opinion.”
Equally interesting is what happens next for the fan-favorite Portis, who has a player option for the 2025-26 season worth close to $13.5 million. He has until June 29 to decide whether or not to opt in.
“I’ve been trying to take a different approach to my upcoming decision,” he said. “I’ve always been a team-first guy, always spoke on being for the team, putting the team first, worrying about winning and all these things. But now I’m at a point where I’m 30 years old now, I want to be compensated fairly to my peers, you feel me? I’m in that position now. … I just want to be compensated fairly to my peers, man. I feel like I’m a great get, a great player for the team. I feel like I’m one of the guys you can’t lose for the culture, man. Certain guys, you’ve got to have.”
Portis was asked about how enticing it would be to return with a Bucks team that could still get injured Damian Lillard back in time for the postseason.
“In this year’s free agency, I’m just worried about Bobby Portis,” he said. “I’m worried about what’s best for me, what’s best for my situation, where can I fit, where can I play the best basketball. If I sign a three- to four-year deal, where I can I be the best Bobby Portis at? … Obviously, I would love to be back in Milwaukee. Not saying that I don’t want to come back to the Bucks. I would love to be back in Milwaukee. But I want to be compensated fairly, man. I took a lot of team-friendly deals to be here. We’re at the point now where I just want to be compensated fairly to my peers.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis talks future and what he expects for Giannis: ‘I want to be compensated fairly’
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
