Milwaukee Bucks fans and Doc Rivers bring it up from time to time. Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting almost assaulted every night with the way he is officiated. Bobby Portis joins those voices in saying that NBA officials are not calling as it is when it comes to the Greek Freak because of his strength.
Antetokounmpo is set to miss at least two weeks after getting diagnosed with a groin injury which he incurred during the second quarter of loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are now 8-7 in the standings and this next two weeks is one of the toughest stretches they have this season.
Portis sat down with the Run it Back show and there, he emphasized how Antetokounmpo’s injury is because of the physicality being allowed by the referees against him.
“I don’t want to get fined or an ything, but the refs are kind of hard on Giannis out there on the court man,” he said when asked by the hosts how they will navigate the next few games without their superstar.
“Going back watching some Shaq tape, they kind of treat him like Shaq on the court for real. Teams can beat him up, throw him on the ground.”
Bobby Portis on Giannis’ injury:
“I don’t want to get fined, but the refs are kind of hard on Giannis… they kind of treat him like Shaq. Teams can beat him up, throw him on the ground.”@BPortistime | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/cjJ52BvtbC
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) November 19, 2025
Bobby Portis calls the situation disheartening
The NBA introduced a new rule at the start of the season called “high five” or “hot stove” foul wherein defenders are prohibited from touching a player’s shooting hand. The smaller guys got protection but the big men are subjected to more physicality.
Rivers once revealed that he talked to the NBA referees about Giannis call but then this official replied that they are allowing it because his player can play through it.
Now, the Bucks are going to play without him, a situation Portis called disheartening.
“Just an unfortunate situation that our best player, if not the best player in the league goes down, doesn’t return to the game, don’t know the severity of what it is,” Portis said in an interview with Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
“But it’s disheartening for us ’cause obviously we need him and our team is basically made up of guys that can bring the best out of him.”
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