The Milwaukee Bucks’ title ambitions have suffered a major blow as forward Bobby Portis Jr has been suspended for 25 games without pay due to a violation of the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Reports indicate that Portis tested positive for Tramadol, a prescription opioid used to treat severe pain, which is prohibited under the league’s drug program. However, his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, clarified that the situation was an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Speaking to ESPN, Bartelstein said,"Bobby mistakenly took Tramadol, believing it was Toradol, another pain medication. This was an honest mistake due to the similarity in their names and purposes,".
Following the announcement, Portis expressed deep regret and accepted full responsibility for the situation.
"I feel awful and completely acknowledge that I am responsible for what I put in my body. I sincerely apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans. I give my all on the court and will greatly miss competing for my team during this period,"
Who is Bobby Portis Jr?
Bobby Portis was drafted as the 22nd overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2015 NBA Draft. As of February 2025, Portis plays for the Milwaukee Bucks and has spent over four-seasons at the franchise.
The forward has spent 10 years in the league, making 651 regular-season appearances for multiple franchises. He has played for Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.
His consistent performances from the bench had him established as one of the best sixth-man in the league. Out of his 651 appearances, Portis had only started 153 games in his career. The last two seasons, Portis also finished in top-three in the Sixth-Man of the Year race.
Bobby Portis’ most memorable moment came in 2021, winning the 2021 NBA championship. The forward averaged 8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game in 20 playoff games for the Bucks in 2021 playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks performance in ongoing season
The timing of the suspension, coming just before Milwaukee’s matchup against the LA Clippers, poses a significant challenge for the team. Portis will be eligible to return on April 9 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but with only four regular-season games remaining, his absence could impact the Bucks’ playoff positioning.
Now in his fifth season with Milwaukee, the 30-year-old forward has been a key contributor, averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 46 games. The Bucks currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 29-24 record, just one game behind the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers (30-24).
