Bobby Portis suspended 25 games for violating NBA’s anti-drug policy

Bobby Portis suspended 25 games for violating NBA’s anti-drug policy

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Thursday.

Just In: The NBA has suspended Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis for 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FeSDo4jb0k

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 20, 2025

According to Portis’ representation, Portis took a medication called “Tramadol,” which is a painkiller, thinking he was taking “Torado.” Here is an excerpt from what Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told Charania:

“The Tramadol pill he took came from an assistant of his, with a valid prescription for the painkiller, which he mistakenly told Bobby was 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. Bobby was using this anti-inflammatory pain-reducing medication to deal with an elbow injury he had this past fall and believed he was taking Toradol to alleviate some pain in preparation for that night’s game.

“I am deeply disappointed that the NBA chooses to interpret its policy so strictly, and that the policy does not allow for a different result for an honest mistake with pure intentions. … This has been incredibly difficult for him, but he will accept this penalty with grace and turn this into a great opportunity to improve and further build his reputation and performance in every way, both on and off the court.”

Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports to ESPN on client Bobby Portis' 25-game suspension, detailing what took place: https://t.co/sB9vmPVYxA pic.twitter.com/tVvbotBJlt

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 20, 2025

Portis, 30, won’t be eligible to return until April 8. He will miss 25 of the team’s final 29 games with the team currently in the hunt for homecourt in the Eastern Conference at 29-24. Milwaukee is currently positioned as the No. 5 seed, one game ahead of the Detroit Pistons and one game back of the Indiana Pacers for homecourt.

Through 46 games, Portis was averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds on 46.3 percent shooting, including 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 82.1 percent from the free-throw line. He finished in the top-3 in Sixth Man of the Year voting in each of his previous two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 2021 NBA Champion becomes the first player since Tristan Thompson to be suspended for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Others to have been suspended 25 games over the last seven years have been Wilson Chandler, Deandre Ayton and John Collins.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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