Giannis turns on Bucks fans as future rumors heat up once again
The Bucks played reacted to his own fans as they booed a poor performance from the team.
As the January clouds sweep overhead for another week and make everyone just that little bit more irritated about everything, Giannis has reached up and dragged the storm even closer.
During a 139-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, fans loudly booed the Bucks as they trudged off the court at halftime, and Antetokounmpo responded with jeers of his own.
Early in the third quarter, after scoring a layup with an and-one, Antetokounmpo sat on the court, flashed a double thumbs-down, and booed back at the crowd. Mayhem.
It was a gesture he has used several times this season on the road, particularly in heated moments. Yet doing it in front of Bucks fans at home marked a rare moment in his 13-year tenure in which rumors regarding his future have been flames licking at his heels for months.
Giannis booed his OWN fans 👀
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 14, 2026
Yeah he’s gone 😭 pic.twitter.com/JH6YFY7d2o
“I thrive through adversity... if I’m at home, if I’m at my family dinner”
“Whenever I get booed, I boo back‚” Antetokounmpo explained frankly after the game in which he scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting. When asked if he’s ever experienced anything like it he said “never”, adding that “I’ve never been a part [of it]. Kinda new for me. It doesn’t change. It’s the same thing. It doesn’t matter. I thrive through adversity. I thrive when people don’t believe in me. Doesn’t matter if I’m on the road, if I’m at home, if I’m at my family dinner, if I’m at the practice facility with my teammates. It doesn’t really matter."
I know exactly how one can thrive through the adversity of a family dinner, so I’m with him there.
“It doesn’t matter,” Antetokounmpo said when asked about the boos coming from the home crowd. “I play basketball for my teammates. I play basketball for myself and my family. When people don’t believe in me, I don’t tend to be with them. I tend to do what I’m here to do, what I’m good at. ... It won’t change home or away. But yeah, I’ve never been a part of something like that before and I don’t think it’s fair. I don’t. But everybody has their opinion to do what they want to do.
EMOTIONAL GIANNIS? Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared to be emotional — rubbing his eyes & shaking his head — as Milwaukee was blown out by Minnesota 😢
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) January 14, 2026
This came in the same game where Giannis boo’d back at the hometown crowd.
What is Giannis thinking in that moment? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/osbKbnVqlp
Related stories
Giannis was wound up and visibly emotional after the game, and continued to direct his ire at the fanbase: “I’m not going to tell them what to do and how they should act when we don’t play hard. Or when we lose games, or when we’re not where we’re supposed to be. I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on [a] basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years. And I’m basically the all-time leader in everything.”
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment