Wednesday brought Bobby Portis some peace of mind. Ever since he left the Bulls for the Bucks, Milwaukee has embraced him. So when burglars broke into his home last November and stole $1.5 million worth of luxury items, the concern was real. Now, with the feds finally pressing charges, the 30-year-old center can breathe. But not for long—his suspension came at the worst possible time, crashing his moment of joy.

The Milwaukee Bucks meet the LA Clippers for a clash on Thursday and before the game. And ahead of the game, Portis shared with the media how it felt to finally get justice.

He initially refused to comment on the matter, but when asked, he said: “It’s tough right? As a professional athlete, you’re valued to be the best you can be nightly. To work on your craft to get better, to be the best version of yourself nightly right? So I try that.” As a pro, you get paid for your hard work. The sweat you break on the field or court matters, fans love you for that. That’s your bread and butter.

Bobby Portis continued: “Some days it goes my way some days it doesn’t. But no one can ever question my effort. So, when I put everything into the game and come home to find all my belongings gone—things I worked hard for—it’s kind of gratifying to know these guys have been caught.”

Undoubtedly, losing things must have been a painful experience. Especially because Portis has put in his minutes, efforts, and games into having this life. But then, the burglars’ charges fueled fresh energy in both him and his mom. Bobby Portis shared that at 7:03 a.m., his mother called him and said, “They got the guys.” He thanked her and added, “She was excited, but shout out to my mom—she’s always on point with everything going on out here for sure.”

But soon, things took an odd turn for Portis as an unprecedented suspension came his way. This unwanted surprise wasn’t in Bobby Portis’ bingo card for sure. However, no one can undo the suspension, and more trouble awaits the 30-year-old.

Bobby Portis’ suspension throws the Milwaukee Bucks in front of a major cash loss

The NBA has hit Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr. with a 25-game suspension without pay after he tested positive for tramadol, a banned substance under the league’s anti-drug policy. His suspension kicks in on Thursday against the Clippers, sidelining him until at least April 8—just three games before the regular season ends. According to his agent, Mark Bartelstein, Portis believed he was taking Toradol, a league-approved painkiller he had used before. Though a doctor properly prescribed tramadol, the NBA bans it, turning this into an unfortunate but costly mistake.

Portis, a beloved figure in Milwaukee, feels frustrated by the NBA’s strict enforcement of its policy. “I am deeply disappointed that the NBA chooses to interpret its policy so strictly… This has been incredibly difficult for him,” Bartelstein stated, first revealing details to ESPN. However, Portis isn’t backing down. He plans to take this setback in stride, using it as “a great opportunity to improve and further build his reputation and performance in every way, both on and off the court.”

Meanwhile. for the Bucks a massive trouble awaits. ESPN analyst Bobby Marks has informed that Bobby Portis’s suspension will have a financial implication for the franchise. The 25-game suspension will cost $114,348 per game for the Milwaukee Bucks. This sums up to a whopping $2.85 million. And the most concerning part is for the first five games they cannot appoint any replacement for Bobby Portis. Only from the sixth game onwards can the team bring in a replacement.

Thus, Bobby Portis finally got justice, but fate had other plans. Just as relief set in, his suspension shook things up, leaving both him and the Bucks reeling. The timing couldn’t be worse—Milwaukee takes a financial hit, and with no immediate replacement, the pressure mounts. Yet, if there’s one thing Portis thrives on, it’s adversity. Can he break through the odds and bring back the fire in his game? We’ll get to know but not before April 8.