Just as the second half of the season was about to begin for the Milwaukee Bucks, they get hit with a bombshell. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the NBA has handed Bobby Portis a suspension of 25 games for taking a banned substance.
BREAKING: Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. to be suspended 25 games for taking a banned substance, sources tell me. #haynesbriefs
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— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 20, 2025
“I just received some very unfortunate news. League sources relayed to me that Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. will be suspended for 25 games for unknowingly taking a substance that is on the league’s banned list. That is 25 games. The Bucks have 29 games left in the regular season…With Portis being out, this is going to be a tough road ahead for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is their sparkplug off the bench. He is their backup center. This is definitely not the ideal time.”
Now in his fifth season in Milwaukee, Portis has established himself as a core player on the team. In each of the last two seasons, he finished third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Furthermore, he is putting together another solid campaign this year. Through 46 games, he is averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Key Milwaukee Bucks Contributor Suspended for 25 Games
What Bobby Portis’ Suspension Means for the Bucks
This is clearly not good for the Bucks. While far from the team’s most valuable player, Portis plays a big role in the Bucks’ success. He is one of the best bench players in the NBA and provides a lot of value on the court. Furthermore, as Haynes mentioned, the Bucks wanted to focus on cohesion for the second half of the season. At the trade deadline, they acquired Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton. For Milwaukee, their hope was to build chemistry throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs. With Portis out for nearly the rest of the regular season, this will prove difficult for Milwaukee.
Currently, the Bucks are 29-24 and own the No. 5 seed in the East. However, they are just four games ahead of the No. 9 seed Miami Heat. A postseason appearance still seems inevitable for the Bucks. Regardless, Portis’ suspension still puts them in a tough spot the rest of the way.
The Last Word
The Bucks are still a good team, but losing Portis will hurt. They will begin the second half of the season tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.
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