Bobby Portis received’t be eligible to return for that Bucks till April eight. (Image by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis was suspended 25 video games without having pay for violating the NBA’s anti-drug plan, the league declared Thursday. He examined constructive for Tramadol.
Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, introduced a statement saying the violation was effectively a combination-up. Bartelstein mentioned Portis thought he was getting a ache medication known as Toradol, which is authorised, but in its place took Tramadol, which is not. The assertion stated Portis was specified the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it had been “an genuine miscalculation.”
“Bobby Portis is absolutely not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby performs tirelessly on growing hisperformance in all pure, lawful and healthier means, but he created a slip-up and took a tablet that unknowingly he should not have. Nowadays, During this occasion, I'm so deeply dissatisfied the NBA chooses to interpret its coverage so strictly, and the coverage isn't going to allow for for a different outcome for an trustworthy slip-up with pure intentions.”
In a press release produced by the Bucks, Portis stated, “I truly feel horrible and understand that I’m liable for what I put in my physique. From The underside of my coronary heart, I desire to apologize on the Bucks Firm, my teammates, coaches, household and supporters. I give almost everything I have over the courtroom and will terribly pass up actively playing video games for the Bucks all through this time.”
Bucks normal manager Jon Horst reported that even though “this can be a quite challenging set of instances for Bobby and our crew … we a hundred% help Bobby.”
The twenty five-recreation suspension would make Portis ineligible to return until the Bucks’ April 8 dwelling recreation versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Like that game, the Bucks might have just 4 regular-period online games remaining. Milwaukee currently sits in fifth area during the Eastern Conference, just one game back in the Indiana Pacers.
Portis has played in 46 online games for that Bucks this time, averaging twenty five.two minutes, thirteen.7 factors and 8.3 rebounds per recreation.