Bobby Portis is trapped. While gearing up for another match with the Milwaukee Bucks, trying to get back to his best health, he relied on pain medication to push through. But what should’ve been a simple fix for recovery turned into a nightmare for the 2021 NBA champion.

Previously, Portis had been prescribed Toradol for pain relief. But, unbeknownst to him, an assistant handed him a pill that wasn’t Toradol, but tramadol—a different pain medication that had recently been added to the NBA’s banned substances list. The mix-up seemed harmless at the time, a simple mistake with similar drug names and purposes. But this small slip-up would cost him 25 games.

Tramadol is a prescription medication used to treat moderate-to-severe pain. It is classified as a synthetic opioid, but unlike stronger opioids, it also acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). This means it not only alleviates physical pain but also has an effect on mood, which can sometimes make it more prone to misuse. The NBA added tramadol to its banned substances list in 2023 due to concerns over its addictive properties and potential for abuse.

In a statement about the same, Mark Bartelstein, Portis’ agent at Priority Sports, said, “I am devastated for Bobby right now because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications of it are incredibly significant.” Clarifying that the consumption of the medicine was accidental, he stated: “Bobby unintentionally took a pain medication called tramadol, thinking he was taking a pain medication called Toradol. Toradol is an approved pain medication that he has used previously and that teams and players use for pain and inflammation at times. Tramadol, however, is not an approved pain medication and was just recently added to the banned substance list this past spring.”

With Portis on suspension, the Bucks are now without one of their top reserves. This is his fifth season with the team and he has averaged 13.7 points per game and 6.5 rebounds. This season’s stats speak to his importance to the team: 25.2 minutes per game, 46.3% shooting from the field, 36.4% from three, 8.3 rebounds per 48 minutes, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 assists per game. So, how is the 30-year-old hooper taking the sudden, unnecessary chaos?

Portis opens up about the suspension

This might come across as a shock. But, despite the clarification issued, the hooper will not appeal the suspension. Bartelstein added, acknowledging that the mix-up was unintentional but still very impactful.

The 25-game suspension left Portis with a heavy heart. He shared his feelings about the situation in a statement released by the team: “I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation. During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body.”

Portis added a heartfelt apology to everyone towards the end, “From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans.”  Yet, staying true to himself, he ended his statement by expressing hope for the future: “I give everything I have on the court and will terribly miss playing games for the Bucks during this time. I will continue to work hard and be ready for our long playoff run. Thank you for your support. I appreciate it more than you know.”

Bobby Portis’s suspension begins with the game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Fans can expect him back on April 8, for the next Bucks’ home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the fourth-last of Milwaukee’s in the regular season.