The NBA has suspended Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis for 25 games after he violated the league’s anti-drug policy. This decision leaves Portis sidelined for most of the rest of the season.
Portis tested positive for tramadol, a medication meant for severe pain relief. His representative, Mark Bartelstein, explained that this incident was accidental. According to Bartelstein, Portis thought he was taking a different pain medication called Toradol, which is approved for use in the league.
Bartelstein described the situation as an honest mistake. Portis was using the medication to help with an elbow injury and received the tramadol from an assistant who had a valid prescription. The assistant mistakenly told him it was Toradol, leading to this unfortunate mix-up.
Portis won’t appeal the suspension. This is a heavy loss for the Bucks, who currently hold the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-24. Losing Portis, one of the top bench players in the NBA, will hurt their chances as they try to secure a better playoff position. The team also faces the task of filling his roster spot while he’s out, and Portis will forfeit approximately $2.85 million during the suspension.
Portis is expected to return on April 8 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with just four games left in the regular season. So far this season, he’s averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, ranking him among the top scoring and rebounding reserves in the league. He has consistently been a contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award over the past few seasons, which highlights his importance to the team’s success.
