The Milwaukee Bucks’ championship aspirations just hit a major road bump.
Bobby Portis was handed a 25-game suspension without pay by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 20, 2025
Reports indicated that Portis tested positive for the drug Tramadol, a prescription that is banned under the NBA's anti-drug program. This is an opioid used to medicate severe pain.
However, Portis' agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told NBA senior insider Shams Charania that the player had confused the prohibited substance with another pain medication.
"Bobby unintentionally took a pain medication called Tramadol, thinking he was taking a pain medication called Toradol. This was, again, an honest mistake that was made because of the similarity in the names of the drugs and the fact they both serve a very similar purpose,” the statement read.
Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports to ESPN on client Bobby Portis' 25-game suspension, detailing what took place: https://t.co/sB9vmPVYxA
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 20, 2025
Portis extended his apologies and took full responsibility for what transpired.
"I feel horrible and recognize that I'm responsible for what I put in my body. From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family and fans. I give everything I have on the court and will terribly miss playing games for the Bucks during this time."
Here is the Milwaukee Bucks statement on Bobby Portis' 25-game suspension:
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 20, 2025
The suspension came just hours before Milwaukee hosts the LA Clippers. Portis will be eligible to return in their April 9 showdown against the Minnesota Timberwolves but with four games left in the regular season.
In his fifth season with the Bucks, the 30-year-old is averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 46 games.
Milwaukee is currently sitting at the no. 5 spot in the East with a 29-24 record and just one game behind the fourth-ranked Indiana Pacers (30-24).
