Bobby Portis Jr.’s 25-game NBA suspension means he won’t be eligible to play until April 8, which will be the 79th game of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 82-game season. The suspension begins with Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Portis Jr. was suspended due to a positive test for the painkiller tramadol.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games due to a positive test for painkiller tramadolThe NBA has suspended Milwaukee forward Bobby Portis Jr. for 25 games without pay after he tested positive for the painkiller tramadol, violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
Portis will be eligible to play no earlier than April 8, the 79th game of Milwaukee’s 82-game season. His suspension begins with the Bucks’ game on Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Portis took the painkiller “unintentionally,” said his agent Mark Bartelstein.
Portis believed he was taking Toradol, a medication he has used before and is approved, according to his agent, Bartelstein, who shared the details with ESPN.
Portis was unaware he was taking tramadol, which was prescribed to him but is on the NBA’s banned substance list.
“I am deeply disappointed that the NBA chooses to interpret its policy so strictly and that the policy does not allow for a different outcome in the case of an honest mistake with pure intentions,” Bartelstein said in the statement.
“Bobby loves being a part of the NBA, and he takes pride in being a role model and ambassador for the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee.”
“This has been extremely challenging for him, but he will accept this penalty with grace and use it as an opportunity to grow and enhance his reputation and performance, both on and off the court.”
Portis is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Bucks this season, primarily coming off the bench.
