Bobby Portis Jr. is an American professional basketball player currently playing as a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. Born on February 10, 1995, in Little Rock, Arkansas, he played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks, earning consensus second-team All-American honors as a sophomore in 2015.
Portis was selected 22nd overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2015 NBA Draft. He has also played for the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks before joining the Bucks in 2020. Portis played a pivotal role in Milwaukee’s 2021 NBA Championship victory.
On February 20, 2025, Portis was suspended for 25 games without pay after testing positive for Tramadol, a pain-relief medication not approved under the NBA’s anti-drug policy. The suspension began with the Bucks’ game against the Los Angeles Clippers, sidelining Portis for a significant portion of the season.
Portis expressed remorse, stating that he mistakenly took Tramadol instead of the approved medication Toradol while treating an elbow injury. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, emphasized that it was an honest mistake due to the similarity in the drugs’ names and purposes, asserting that Portis is not a drug abuser.
The Milwaukee Bucks and general manager Jon Horst voiced their support for Portis, focusing on team and individual growth through this challenge.
Prior to the suspension, Portis was averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in the 2024-2025 season. His absence presents a challenge for the Bucks, who are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 29-24 record.