The Milwaukee Bucks have once again made an early exit from the NBA Playoffs, falling in the first round. This time, it was a five-game defeat at the hands of the rival Indiana Pacers, who also knocked the Bucks out of the postseason last year. As Milwaukee watches from the sidelines, the Pacers have surged to a 2-0 lead over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers—another team hampered by key injuries.
This marks the Bucks’ third straight first-round elimination, raising serious questions about the direction of the franchise heading into the offseason. Chief among those questions—particularly from outside Milwaukee—is whether Giannis Antetokounmpo might consider requesting a trade.
For now, Bucks fans are left to reflect on another disappointing finish. What makes this year’s exit especially bitter is the opponent—Indiana—whose fanbase has been particularly harsh toward Milwaukee’s players on social media.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Bobby Portis Reveals the Messages He Gets from Indiana Pacers Fans
Naturally, Giannis Antetokounmpo became a focal point for taunts following the Bucks’ Game Five loss, with one particular incident gaining traction on social media. John Haliburton, father of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, was banned indefinitely by the Pacers organization from attending future games after allegedly directing inappropriate remarks toward Giannis.
According to Giannis, Haliburton Sr. swore at him, while Haliburton claimed he was merely cheering, saying, “Yay! Yay!” Regardless of what was actually said, the encounter added tension to an already bitter series.
However, the situation involving John Haliburton pales in comparison to what Bobby Portis experienced online. During a recent appearance on Run It Back, Portis revealed that he received a flood of hateful and hostile messages from Indiana fans on social media following the Bucks’ elimination.
After Lou Williams shared that Pacers fans were the most respectful trash talkers he’d ever encountered, Bobby Portis had a very different take. “Well, that’s your experience,” he responded. “With me, they hate me, man. Everything you can think of—they hate me. I’m ugly, I’ve got big eyes, F me, F my family. They hope I die. All kinds of stuff, man. Especially after we lost to them. The same exact guys from last year were back on me again.”
Despite the harsh words, Portis said he doesn’t take social media comments personally. He explained that since these are people he’ll never meet or know in real life, their opinions carry no weight for him.
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