Latest news with #Portis'
Associated Press
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Portis set to return from his 25-game suspension as Bucks host Timberwolves
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bobby Portis is coming back from his 25-game suspension as the Milwaukee Bucks continue their push toward the playoffs. The 30-year-old forward is expected to dress for the Bucks' game Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves and make his first game appearance since the All-Star break. Portis was suspended on Feb. 20 after testing positive for the painkiller Tramadol, violating the league's anti-drug program. Portis has indicated he took Tramadol unintentionally. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Portis believed he was taking Toradol, which is approved and is something that he has taken before. 'When (the suspension) first came, I was mad,' Portis said on a video he posted Monday night on X. 'I was angry that I was getting suspended. I didn't really understand. Why me? It's always a thing. Why me? Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to me?' The suspension continued a difficult stretch for Portis in which his grandmother died and his home was burglarized. He reacted by counting his blessings, relying on the people closest to him and taking comfort in continuing to play basketball on his own. 'I'm thankful I get a chance to wake up every day,' Portis said. 'I'm thankful I've got a great support system around me each and every day to keep me going. I'm thankful that I am able to still go play basketball. Obviously I can't play in front of 20,000, 15,000 fans every night, but I still get a chance to get up and grind every day, to get better. I'm really just kept my head down, staying ready, so when it's time to get back on the floor, I can be the best I can be.' That time has arrived as the Bucks enter the final week of the regular season. 'Really excited to have him back,' teammate Kyle Kuzma said after the Bucks' Tuesday morning shootaround. 'I think that he is a huge part of our identity, our mood and feeling out there on the court. I think he's somebody that has just a certain amount of aura to him, tenacity that can ignite a group.' Portis lost $2,858,701 in salary because of the suspension. He has averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and a career-high 2.2 assists in 46 games. His overall (.463) and 3-point (.364) shooting percentages are his lowest since 2019-20, his last season before joining the Bucks. Milwaukee was 29-24 at the time of Portis' suspension and went 15-10 in the 25 games he missed while enduring plenty of ups and downs. The Bucks went 7-1 in the first eight games of Portis' suspension, then lost nine of their next 13 games as their lack of frontcourt depth was exposed. During that slump, the Bucks also lost seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard, who is out indefinitely as he deals with blood clots in his calf that leave his potential return uncertain. Lillard last played on March 18. Milwaukee has since won four straight, though all those victories have come against teams with losing records. The Bucks are fifth in the Eastern Conference, the same position they held when Portis' suspension began. The Bucks are three games behind fourth-place Indiana with four games left in the season, though Milwaukee does have the head-to-head tiebreaker if the two teams finish with the same record. The top four teams in each conference earn home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. Because the Bucks have only four games left in the regular season, they won't have much of an opportunity to get accustomed to playing together before the playoffs start. Milwaukee had added Kuzma as part of a series of moves at the trade deadline. Kuzma and Portis only were on the floor together for four games before Portis' suspension. Kuzma was asked if that would be enough time to establish cohesiveness before the postseason. 'I don't know if that's enough, to be honest — it's four games — but it's up to us to figure it out,' Kuzma said. 'There's no crying on the yacht, as they say. For us, we've just got to figure it out, go out and compete every night and make it make sense out there.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Milwaukee Bucks championship ring stolen from Bobby Portis in River Hills home burglary
Nearly $1.5 million worth of Bobby Portis' belongings, including the basketball star's 2021 Milwaukee Bucks championship ring, were stolen from his River Hills home in the November burglary that seven members of a South American theft group now face charges for. Portis returned from the Nov. 2 Milwaukee Bucks game to find a smashed window and a "ransacked" bedroom, according to a police report released to the Journal Sentinel Tuesday. A safe containing the $1 million championship ring, several watches, jewelry and personal items was missing. After a months-long investigation, federal prosecutors in Florida charged seven Chilean men on Tuesday Feb. 18 with burglarizing the homes of high-profile professional athletes, including Portis, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow. The River Hills Police Department released the document to media starting on Feb. 21 after a months-long court negotiation with media over the report. The department also released the video surveillance footage of the robbery, showing the burglars breaking into the home through the front door and leaving with what appears to be a safe. In a statement sent to the Journal Sentinel Feb. 25, River Hills Police Chief Michael Gaynor said the report was released as a result of the charges being filed on Feb. 18. According to the police report: Portis returned home from a Bucks game on Nov. 2, 2024 to find that his bedroom window had been smashed and his safe had been stolen, along with multiple other items. Among the items Portis eventually reported stolen was the 2021 NBA championship ring, along with several Rolex watches, luxury travel bags full of clothes, jewelry pieces, $50,000 in cash and personal letters and photos. The green-and-silver championship ring had 400 diamonds and was valued at $1 million. Portis called police around 11:21 p.m., and officers arrived at the scene to inspect the house and conduct interviews with Portis' and friends and family who had shown up in support. The officer observed signs of the burglary all over Portis' room: glass all over the floors and opened drawers as though someone had rummaged through them. Video surveillance footage installed in Portis' home showed two masked individuals walk up to Portis's bedroom door, peek through the windows and shatter the glass with a window breaker. The suspects entered the bedroom at 6:59 p.m. and exited Portis' home with the safe and other items eight minutes later at 7:07 p.m. The ensuing investigation involved interviewing neighbors and others close to Portis, multiple search warrants and collaboration with other agencies to connect Portis' case to the other cases. The members of the South American theft group are charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property in a federal court in Tampa, Florida. If convicted, the charges carry up to 10 years in prison. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the day after the charges were filed, Portis told reporters he was pleased to see the charges. "It's like you put all you can into the game and then you come home and just all your belongings are gone, things you worked hard for," he said. "It's kind of gratifying that these guys have been caught. Obviously, because you work so hard for your things." Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@ Follow her on X at @levensc13. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks championship ring stolen in Bobby Portis burglary
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bobby Portis home burglary, championship ring among items stolen
The Brief Bobby Portis' 2021 NBA championship ring was among the items stolen from his home, according to police records. River Hills police responded to the burglary at Portis' home last year. Federal prosecutors charged seven Chilean nationals with burglarizing high-profile pro athletes' homes – including Portis' home. RIVER HILLS, Wis. - Bobby Portis' 2021 NBA championship ring was among the items stolen from his home last year, according to River Hills Police Department records FOX6 News obtained Friday. Dig deeper According to an incident report, Portis came home from the Milwaukee Bucks' game the night of Nov. 3 to find his bedroom window smashed, and his safe had been stolen. His 2021 NBA championship ring – along with watches, jewelry, and other items – was inside the safe. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The report states the green-and-silver ring had 400 diamonds and was valued at an estimated $1 million. FOX6 News also submitted an open records request to the River Hills Police Department for surveillance video associated with the burglary. That video was released on Friday, Feb. 21 and can be viewed in three separate clips below. What they're saying Federal prosecutors in Florida charged seven Chilean nationals on Tuesday with burglarizing high-profile pro athletes' homes – including Portis' home. The group is accused of stealing nearly $1.5 million in jewelry, cash and designer bags. Four of the men posed for a selfie with watches, jewelry and a mangled safe. "It's kind of gratifying that these guys have been caught," Portis said. "Obviously, you work so hard for your things." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android The photo shows Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut and an unknown fourth man. That photo, federal prosecutors said, is proof of part of the haul from Portis' home. "Crazy that the picture – I'm not going to say anything about it," said Portis. "It works me up." What's next It's unlikely federal or state charges will be filed in Wisconsin in connection to the investigation. The River Hills Police Department said the burglary case will be prosecuted out of Florida. Four of the men also face state charges in Ohio. The Source Information in this report is from the River Hills Police Department, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and prior FOX6 News coverage.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is Tramadol? What to know about the drug after Bobby Portis Jr.'s 25-game suspension
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. was suspended by the NBA for 25 games on Thursday for violating its anti-drug policy. The NBA said Portis tested positive for Tramadol, a pain medication that is banned by the league and is also on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned drugs. Mark Bartelstein, Portis' agent, issued a statement saying his client "unintentionally" took Tramadol, mistakenly thinking it was Toradol, a pain medication approved by the NBA and its players union. The statement said Portis supports the league's anti-drug policy, adding he is "absolutely not a drug abuser." 'I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation,' Portis said in a statement. '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.' Here's what to know about Tramadol following Portis' suspension. According to the Food and Drug Administration, Tramadol is a type of opioid that is used to treat 'moderate to moderately severe pain in adults.' The FDA says the drug can be found under the brand names Ultram, Ultram ER, Conzip, and also as generics. It can also be used in combination with acetaminophen, commonly used in Tylenol, under the brand name Ultracet. Tramadol has been classified as a class IV controlled substance by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which means it has a low potential for abuse or dependence. Other similar class IV medications include Ambien, Xanax and Valium. According to the Mayo Clinic, Toradol is the brand name for Ketorolac, which is also used to relieve moderately severe pain. The drug is classified as a 'nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug' or NSAID. Contributing: Scooby Axson Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Tramadol? What to know after Bobby Portis Jr's suspension
CNN
20-02-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. banned for 25 games after testing positive for Tramadol
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. has been suspended for 25 games after he violated the NBA's anti-drug policy, the league announced Thursday. The 2021 champion tested positive for Tramadol, an opioid which is typically used to relieve pain. It is generally only used when alternative pain medications cannot be used, or have not worked, according to the National Institutes of Health. In a statement sent to CNN Sport, Portis' agent Mark Bartelstein said that the 30-year-old had mistakenly believed he was taking another pain medication called Toradol, which is not banned. 'I am devastated for Bobby right now because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications of it are incredibly significant,' he said. 'The Tramadol pill he took came from an assistant of his, with a valid prescription for the painkiller, which he mistakenly told Bobby was Toradol. This was, again, an honest mistake that was made because of the similarity in the names of the drugs and the fact they both serve a very similar purpose,' he added. 'Bobby was using this anti-inflammatory pain-reducing medication to deal with an elbow injury he had this past fall and believed he was taking Toradol to alleviate some pain in preparation for that night's game.' CNN has reached out to the Bucks and the National Basketball Players Association for comment. Portis' suspension – which is without pay – will begin with Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Fiserv Forum. He will next be available for selection for the Bucks' home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 8, Milwaukee's fourth-last game of the regular season. The Bucks currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-24. Should they reach the postseason, Portis' participation will not be affected. The forward – who has finished in the top three in voting for the Sixth Man of the Year award in each of the last two seasons – has played in 46 of Milwaukee's 54 games so far this season, averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists. CNN's Thomas Schlachter contributed to reporting.
