The Milwaukee Bucks will be without Bobby Portis for a big chunk of the season. The NBA has suspended him for 25 games after testing positive for Tramadol, a prescription painkiller banned under league rules. The suspension is effective immediately, keeping him sidelined until late April, just before the playoffs.
How Did This Happen?
Portis’ representatives insist it was an accidental mix-up. They claim he was supposed to take Toradol, a common anti-inflammatory medication allowed by the NBA, but mistakenly took Tramadol, which is prohibited.
The league, however, doesn’t make exceptions for unintentional use. Players are responsible for what enters their system, and Portis now faces the consequences.
What This Means for the Bucks
The timing isn’t great. Milwaukee is trying to secure a strong playoff position, and losing Portis won’t make that easier.
- Portis has played an important role off the bench, averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while adding physicality and energy in the paint.
- With him sidelined, the Bucks will need to rethink their lineup, likely giving more minutes to younger players and experienced veterans to step in.
- The suspension also comes at a price—Portis is expected to lose around $2.85 million in salary while serving his ban.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard still leading the way, Milwaukee has enough firepower to compete. But losing Portis takes away a big piece of their depth, and they’ll need to find ways to adjust.
What’s Next?
Portis won’t be back until the final stretch of the season, so the Bucks have to stay solid without him. The team will need to lean on its bench, make the right adjustments, and hope to keep momentum rolling as the playoffs get closer.
Beyond this, the situation raises questions about NBA drug policy enforcement. Honest mistake or not, the league is clear—if it’s banned, it’s banned. Whether the punishment is fair or not, the Bucks must now move forward and adjust.
