Porter Jr. addresses the noise surrounding his teammate and urges patience from fans and media.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been the talk of the NBA for all the wrong reasons lately, and it has nothing to do with what's happening on the court.
Trade rumors have swirled around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo for weeks now, with reports suggesting the two-time MVP and his agent have begun conversations with the franchise about his future.
On Tuesday, guard Kevin Porter Jr. had enough of the speculation and let everyone know exactly how he felt.
Porter Jr. Calls Out the Media
"This is the last thing I'm gonna say about anything regarding false information," Porter Jr. said. "At the end of the day, everyone needs to wait until Giannis says something—because all of this is just he say, she say. I guarantee you when we start winning and go 8-0, 9-0, you're gonna see nothing about the Bucks."
Porter's comments came after reports indicated Antetokounmpo had recently met with some teammates to address the trade chatter and tell them to stay focused on basketball.
The reports also suggested that Giannis may not have included Porter or Kyle Kuzma in that meeting, but both players pushed back on that narrative, denying that any such meeting even took place.
Where Things Stand With the Bucks
The Bucks currently sit at 10-15 on the season after losing 10 of their last 12 games, which has only added fuel to the fire surrounding Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee.
The two-time MVP has been sidelined since December 3 with a right calf strain that is expected to keep him out for two-to-four weeks.
Before the injury, Antetokounmpo was putting up monster numbers, averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while shooting 63.9 percent from the field.
Reports from ESPN indicated that Antetokounmpo showed interest in playing for the New York Knicks if he were to be traded, though the Bucks have repeatedly insisted their franchise cornerstone is not available.
Head coach Doc Rivers has flatly denied that Giannis has ever asked to be traded.
Porter Jr. Stepping Up in His Return
Porter Jr.'s frustration with the media attention is understandable given everything he's been through this season.
After suffering an ankle sprain just minutes into the season opener on October 22, he tore his meniscus during return-to-play training and needed surgery on November 3, which kept him out for about a month.
Since returning on November 29 against the Nets, Porter has been one of the few bright spots for Milwaukee during this difficult stretch.
In six games since his comeback, he is averaging 21.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting a red-hot 55.8 percent from the field and 61.8 percent from three-point range.
His best performance came on December 6 against the Pistons when he went off for 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 7-of-9 from deep.
The 25-year-old has shown he can carry the scoring load when Antetokounmpo is unavailable, which the Bucks will need as they try to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Milwaukee's next game comes Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, and Porter is hoping a few wins will shift the conversation away from his teammate's future and back to basketball.