Is the NBA banning players from mixing painkillers? Really? Yes, Milwaukee Bucks 30-year-old forward Bobby Portis got a 25-game suspension for a medication mix-up. The former All-American at Arkansas finds himself in quite a predicament following the news from the NBA.
This suspension came in the wake of a violation of the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program after Portis tested positive for Tramadol, a pain medication not approved for use in the league. While this may appear to be a cut-and-dry case of drug use, the situation is more complex than it initially seems. Portis’ representative emphasized that this was an unfortunate mix-up. He thought he was taking Toradol, a legal pain reliever commonly used by athletes to manage pain and inflammation.
“Bobby Portis Jr. has been suspended for 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for Tramadol, the league announced today. Portis Jr.’s suspension will begin with tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers,” the Bucks’ official statement stated.
Bobby Portis Jr. has been suspended for 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for Tramadol, the league announced today.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 20, 2025
Portis Jr.’s suspension will begin with tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
This unintended error has significant implications for both Portis and the Bucks. As a key contributor to the team’s success over the past five years, he will miss the upcoming games for quite a long time. Portis had good stats before his suspension; he averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds this season. The Bucks, fresh off a championship season in 2021, expect Portis to help again in the quest for another title.
Bobby Portis Gets Support From His Agent And Coach After Suspension
While the news has undoubtedly devastated the Bucks star, Bobby Portis is getting support from his team. Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, showed up for him. Rivers firmly stated that Portis is not a drug user and emphasized that the positive test stemmed from an unfortunate medication mix-up.
“I want to make something clear. Bobby’s not a drug user. I hate that it just says you flunked the drug policy and so when people read that, the first place they go is the wrong place. This was as big of a mistake as can be made, like it’s a mistake. So it bothers me on a lot of levels,” the coach said.
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Portis’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, also defended him, clarifying that the suspension was the result of an honest mistake. He explained that Portis mistakenly took Tramadol when he thought he was using Toradol, a permitted pain medication.
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
“I am devastated for Bobby right now because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications of it are incredibly significant. Bobby unintentionally took a pain medication called Tramadol, thinking he was taking a pain medication called Toradol,” Bartelstein said.
Though it was not his mistake, the agent expressed disappointment in the NBA’s strict interpretation of its policies. The rules do not allow for distinctions in genuine mistakes made with good intentions.
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