The ambiance of the Milwaukee Bucks locker room can get pretty intense at times. So, to lighten the mood, Giannis Antetokounmpo cracks “Dad jokes.” And these jokes aren’t limited to just the locker room. They’ve made their way from press conferences to flights. Everyone’s familiar with the Greek Freak’s antics, whether it’s his teammates or the media. But does the hoopster share these jokes in the team’s group chats too? His teammate, Bobby Portis, reveals the top secret.

During his appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back, the Bucks forward was asked by curious host Michelle Beadle whether Giannis sends his signature jokes in their active groups as well. Or if he’s the type who simply responds with a thumbs-up to everything.

While most would guess the Greek Freak is the first type, Bobby Portis stunningly revealed, “He’s actually that second person for real.” If your jaw has dropped after reading this, brace yourself for an even bigger surprise. “He don’t send no lame dad jokes, and I think that’s just for the media, man. He just be trying to set people off for real,” Portis said.

“I think in our group chats, man, it has been active. It’s been great for us, especially like just keeping everyone chimed in on the moment. It’s a long year…” Portis continued. However, switching back to Giannis Antetokounmpo, in a press conference two years ago, the Greek Freak was spotted with a book titled “Dad Jokes,” from which he sources his collection.

Not only that but the 2-time MVP was once seen tucking his teammate into a blanket on a flight, preparing him for what the 30-year-old called a “cold joke.” His jokes are often called “lame,” though. While humor might not be his biggest area of expertise, no one can criticize the seasoned pro’s skills while he’s hooping. As Portis also claimed, he has been delivering an MVP-level performance.

Bobby Portis declares Giannis Antetokounmpo as the MVP favorite

When Portis was asked whether Giannis was in his best form, he said, “I think this is the best he’s been since I’ve been on the team. This is my fifth season, I’m playing with him.” The Nigerian’s insane numbers are enough to back that statement. In the 21 games, so far, Giannis is averaging 32.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. And when it comes to shooting skills, he’s keeping it above 61% from the field. He’s also been consistent with his 18 double-doubles and three triple-doubles!

Reflecting on his initial days in Milwaukee, Portis shared, “When I first got here, he wasn’t shooting as many jumpers, midranges, and things like that. But then, as you work on your game, put the time and effort into your craft, you start to see it’s the development of your skill set. And, I think it’s been kinda cool to see him develop into, you know, this mid-range kinda assassin type of player.”

Despite having a series of accolades added to his name, the 8x All-Star has never stopped working on his skills. His defensive abilities, which earned him the DPOY title in 2020, were already strong, but he also worked on his shooting. Although his three-point shooting hasn’t been sharp yet, history tells us there’s nothing that Giannis can’t improve.

When it came to his pick for the 2025 MVP title, Portis naturally chose his teammate. “If the MVP ended today, I think he’s the, you know, current favorite.” However, he was quick to acknowledge Nikola Jokic, who’s currently at the top of the Kia MVP Ladder.

It’s not even mid-season yet, but the competition for this season’s MVP title has already heated up. With frequent ups and downs in the rankings recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo has tightly secured the second spot. But will he be able to maintain his consistency until the very end and secure his third MVP title, or will it be the Serbian again? That will unfold as the season progresses.