Bobby Portis always has the support of Milwaukee Bucks fans when he’s on the court.
And based on initial reactions following the NBA levying a 25-game suspension against Portis for taking a drug banned by the league that hasn’t changed.
Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett also has Portis’ back.
“Hold you head Bobby p.. You good!! KEEP WORKING N STAY ON YOUR GRIND,” Garnett wrote on his Instagram story Thursday and tagged Portis.
Portis shared Garnett’s post on his Instagram story with three “100” emojis.
Bobby Portis suspension
Portis has been suspended 25 games by the NBA for violating its anti-drug policy, the league announced Thursday.
It said Portis, who is in his fifth season with the Bucks, took the drug Tramadol, which is a pain medication.
What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a specific type of narcotic medicine called an opioid used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain in adults, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Portis’ agent said the Bucks reserve forward “unintentionally” took the drug, thinking it was a different NBA-approved pain medication, Toradol. His agent said Portis’ personal assistant gave him the wrong drug.
Portis had been previously taking Toradol for pain and inflammation, he said.
Bobby Portis statement on use of Tramadol
Portis issued a statement through the Bucks and called his use of Tramadol an “honest mistake” while he was dealing with an elbow injury.
“I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body,” Portis said. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family and fans.”
In the statement, the Bucks said it accepts the suspension and respects the NBA’s anti-drug program but it “100%” supports Portis.
Fans appear to do as well. And some feel the punishment is excessive.
Bucks fans react to Bobby Portis suspension
Adam Silver thinks small-market teams are the reason for low ratings. He doesn’t want Giannis on the Bucks. The message is loud and clear.
— Nick (@NotionsofNick) February 20, 2025
This is BS. The NBA is doing its best to prevent the Bucks from winning another 🏆 so Giannis will go to a bigger market. It won’t work. #BucksInSix
— Scott T. Parkinson (@ScottTParkinson) February 20, 2025
I bet David Gruber could free Bobby
— Tiffany Tong 🦌🧀🌴 (@_tiffany_tong) February 20, 2025
25 games is insane
— HeatFly 🔥🦅 (@Heatflyy) February 20, 2025
On a personal level, Bobby Portis is having an awful season hereHome was robbed, $1.5M stolenGrandma passes awaySuspended 25 games, losing $2.5MThe opt out many assumed would happen is less likely now
Hang in there @BPortistime
Bucks fans have your back
— Paul Henning (@brewcitypaul) February 20, 2025
What is the NBA’s suspension policy?
Some NBA fans were also quick to bring up another recent high-profile suspension and a few didn’t feel the punishments matched up with the incidents.
The NBA suspended Miles Bridges 30 games during the summer of 2023 for a domestic violence case the year prior. Bridges was given credit for 20 games when he sat out the 2022-23 season when he wasn’t signed to a team and served the remaining 10 games of the suspension to start the 2023-24 season. Bridges pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence, but later was accused of violating the terms of his restraining order, according to the Associated Press.
According to the NBA, a player convicted of a violent felony or enters a guilty plea by no contest are suspended for a minimum of 10 games.
A first violation related to violating the drug policy begins at 25 games, according to ESPN’s breakdown on the league’s suspensions.
Obviously Bobby Portis is doing himself zero favors, but a 25-game suspension compared to a 10-game official suspension for Miles Bridges for his domestic abuse allegations is crazy work https://t.co/qiibHRYfAj
— Joe Metz (@JoeMetz34) February 20, 2025
Took the wrong medication by accident? Banned for 25 games WITHOUT pay.Places parlays on yourself on Fanduel? Lifetime ban from the league!Domestic abuser? Suit up, you got a game on Friday!
Adam Silver’s NBA 👍🏽 https://t.co/ui1PHOZpQJ
— alemeda fan club (@wsgadlibs) February 20, 2025
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bobby Portis suspension: Kevin Garnett, NBA fans react to news
