SAD NEWS: Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis suspended for 25 games.see more details.
Here are the full details on this significant suspension:
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🛑 What happened?
On February 20, 2025, the NBA announced a 25-game unpaid suspension for Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. for violating the league’s anti-drug policy by testing positive for Tramadol, a synthetic opioid now on the NBA’s banned substance list .
The suspension took effect immediately—starting with the game against the Clippers—and sidelined Portis for most of the regular season, ending around April 8, with four regular-season games remaining .
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Portis’ explanation
Portis claims the incident was an unintentional mix-up: he thought he was taking Toradol, an approved NSAID, but was handed Tramadol by an assistant with a valid prescription. The similarity in names led to the error .
His agent, Mark Bartelstein, expressed devastation and stressed that Portis is not a drug abuser, calling it an honest mistake .
Portis also issued a public apology, acknowledging his responsibility and apologizing to the team, fans, and family while committing to return stronger .
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NBA response & consequences
The league and the NBA/NBPA Anti‑Drug Program applied the standard first-time penalty of 25 games. Under the collective bargaining agreement, this is non-negotiable and non-appealable .
Portis lost approximately $2.85 million in salary due to the absence .
Bucks’ GM Jon Horst and coach Doc Rivers pledged full support for Portis, viewing him as a valuable part of the locker room and team identity .
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Impact on the team
Portis, averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, is a key “sixth man” who had finished top‑3 in Sixth Man of the Year voting in previous seasons .
During his 25-game absence, the Bucks went 15–10, showing depth and resilience but also fluctuating in performance .
He returned on April 8 against Minnesota, with teammates like Gary Trent Jr. expressing excitement. Portis’ energy, rebounding, and bench scoring were widely missed .
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Medical context & community reaction
Tramadol is a mild opioid, recently added to the banned list. While considered less potent than other opioids, it is still a narcotic, leading to debate over severity .
On Reddit, commenters noted:
> “It’s a CBA defined 25 game suspension for a positive test… The positive test isn’t being contested.”
A pharmacist observed Tramadol’s opioid strength is similar to hydrocodone, and questioned whether a 25-game ban was justified .
Many agree it’s an unfortunate mistake but argue the punishment seems disproportionately harsh given the medical and contextual details.
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🔍 Final thoughts
This suspension is a clash between strict drug policy enforcement and personal, honest mistakes involving prescription medications. The NBA’s rules allowed no leniency, though the community—fans, physicians, and analysts—support a more measured response. This incident underlines the responsibility players have in verifying substances they consume.
If you’d like updates on Portis’ playoff performance, team adjustments, or the legal specifics of NBA drug policy, I’m happy to dive deeper!