Bobby Portis gained’t be suitable to return for your Bucks right until April 8. (Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures)
Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis was suspended 25 online games devoid of purchase violating the NBA’s anti-drug plan, the league introduced Thursday. He tested favourable for Tramadol.

Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, introduced an announcement boasting the violation was effectively a mix-up. Bartelstein reported Portis imagined he was having a discomfort medication referred to as Toradol, and that is permitted, but as a substitute took Tramadol, which is not. The statement reported Portis was presented the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it absolutely was “an trustworthy mistake.”

“Bobby Portis is completely not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby works tirelessly on growing hisperformance in all pure, authorized and wholesome approaches, but he manufactured a oversight and took a capsule that unknowingly he shouldn't have. Now, On this occasion, I am so deeply unhappy the NBA chooses to interpret its plan so strictly, and that the policy won't make it possible for for a special final result for an straightforward miscalculation with pure intentions.”

In a statement unveiled through the Bucks, Portis claimed, “I come to feel Awful and acknowledge that I’m responsible for what I set in my physique. From The underside of my heart, I need to apologize on the Bucks Firm, my teammates, coaches, spouse and children and supporters. I give anything I have around the court docket and will terribly miss playing online games for the Bucks during this time.”

Bucks general manager Jon Horst reported that although “that is a quite challenging set of situation for Bobby and our team … we a hundred% aid Bobby.”

The 25-match suspension would make Portis ineligible to return until finally the Bucks’ April 8 dwelling recreation versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which includes that activity, the Bucks would've just four standard-period video games remaining. Milwaukee at the moment sits in fifth put during the Eastern Convention, one particular video game again with the Indiana Pacers.

Portis has performed in forty six online games for that Bucks this season, averaging 25.two minutes, thirteen.seven points and 8.3 rebounds for each recreation.