Bobby Portis received’t be eligible to return for that Bucks right up until April eight. (Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis was suspended twenty five online games without the need of buy violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, the league declared Thursday. He examined beneficial for Tramadol.
Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, produced a press release boasting the violation was fundamentally a combination-up. Bartelstein mentioned Portis believed he was having a agony medication identified as Toradol, and that is accredited, but alternatively took Tramadol, which isn't. The statement said Portis was supplied the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it was “an genuine miscalculation.”
“Bobby Portis is completely not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby performs tirelessly on growing hisperformance in all pure, lawful and healthful means, but he created a slip-up and took a tablet that unknowingly he should not have. Right now, During this occasion, I'm so deeply upset which the NBA chooses to interpret its plan so strictly, and which the coverage would not permit for a special end result for an trustworthy slip-up with pure intentions.”
In an announcement unveiled because of the Bucks, Portis reported, “I experience Terrible and identify that I’m liable for what I put in my system. From the bottom of my coronary heart, I would like to apologize to your Bucks Firm, my teammates, coaches, loved ones and followers. I give every thing I have around the courtroom and may terribly miss out on taking part in online games for the Bucks all through this time.”
Bucks standard supervisor Jon Horst stated that when “this is a very hard set of situation for Bobby and our team … we 100% assist Bobby.”
The twenty five-activity suspension would make Portis ineligible to return until finally the Bucks’ April 8 property activity against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which includes that match, the Bucks might have just four standard-period video games remaining. Milwaukee at this time sits in fifth position during the Jap Convention, one particular match back from the Indiana Pacers.
Portis has performed in 46 games for the Bucks this time, averaging 25.two minutes, 13.seven points and eight.three rebounds for each recreation.