Latest news with #Toradol
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul George recalls the game-winning shot Damian Lillard made over him: "I should have respected his greatness"
Through the years, the NBA Playoffs have provided many unforgettable moments. The postseason has given fans some of the most thrilling and iconic moments in basketball history, from Michael Jordan's "The Shot" to Jeff Van Gundy hanging onto Alonzo Mourning's leg. However, few are as exhilarating as the long game-winning three-pointer Damian Lillard shot in Paul George's face in Game 5 of their first-round match-up in 2019. It was a contentious clash that saw players from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder exchange pleasantries all series long. So, when PG came out after the match and labeled Lillard's game-winner as a "bad shot," he immediately caught plenty of flak, with many calling him a "hater" and a "sore loser." Advertisement During his appearance on "The Pivot" podcast, the nine-time All-Star looked back at that moment and paid respect to Dame's "greatness." Frustration set in The 6'8" wingman recalled his long road to see action in that series after injuring his shoulder, from countless rehab sessions to taking Toradol shots to manage the pain. So, to see that series end in such a brutal fashion for him and the Thunder was a bitter pill to swallow, which may have led to his comments about Dame's miraculous shot. "Dame shooting that shot—yeah, I was mad at the moment, but like, I should have respected the moment of, like, him being—like, that's his greatness. I should have respected his greatness," PG said. Advertisement The 15-year NBA veteran explained that his remarks about Lillard's shot were intended from an analytical perspective. The 6'3" guard already had possession of the ball with under 10 seconds to go. With PG covering him at near halfcourt, the shifty guard could have tried to escape the latter's defense for a closer look or maybe even a layup, but instead, settled for a long three-ball. "In my mind, it was a bad shot just because of—you had 10 seconds and that's the shot you take? That's like giving Tom Brady the ball on the opponent 20, 15 seconds to go, and he kneed it," the versatile wing noted. "Yeah, like, 'Damn Tom, you ain't going to at least go for it?' Like, you know what I mean? You ain't going to try to get closer, right?" Related: "When you get somebody with that kind of potential and they're white and you are in America, you keep that dude" - Stephen A. Smith claims Dallas must draft and keep Cooper Flagg Got labeled a "hater" Paul acknowledged facing a challenging period during that time, as he endured heavy criticism for his remarks. Advertisement "That moment, crushed me, because like, people that don't know me, they view me as, 'Oh, he's a hater, he's—he's this.'Like, no, like, I respect Dame. I don't got no problem with Dame," George shared. "The shot showed his greatness. I was just more so—I felt he had time. Like, in basketball world, it was a bad shot because I felt he could have really isolated me and got closer to the basket or something. So that bothered me," he added. Hindsight is always 20/20 and even Lillard himself admitted that Hail Mary was a bad shot. However, PG's initial assessment of that remarkable play brought down hellfire and brimstone on him from fans and analysts alike. But George persevered through the criticism, got past it and is now trying to help the Philadelphia 76ers take the next step in their pursuit of excellence in the Eastern Conference. Related: "I inspired the next generation, for me, that's a win" - Paul George opens up about his legacy without a ring
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Portis set to return from his 25-game suspension as Bucks host Timberwolves
FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Monday, March 4, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) 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. Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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.' ___ AP NBA:
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.'
Boston Globe
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Bucks' Bobby Portis suspended 25 games after he mistakenly took painkiller Tramadol rather than Toradol
Portis took the painkiller 'unintentionally,' said his agent, Mark Bartelstein. Portis thought he was taking Toradol, which is approved and is something that he has taken before, Bartelstein said in details first given to ESPN and that he later confirmed to The Associated Press. Portis did not realize that he was taking Tramadol — which was properly prescribed, but is on the NBA's banned substance list. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I am deeply disappointed that the NBA chooses to interpret its policy so strictly, and that the policy does not allow for a different result for an honest mistake with pure intentions,' Bartelstein said in the statement. 'Bobby loves being a part of the NBA and he loves being a role model and a true ambassador for the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee. This has been incredibly difficult for him, but he will accept this penalty with grace and turn this into a great opportunity to improve and further build his reputation and performance in every way, both on and off the court.' Advertisement The Bucks will be without center Bobby Portis, who is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds this season, for the next 25 games as he was suspended by the NBA for taking the painkiller Tramadol. Stacy Revere/Getty Portis — considered one of the league's tougher players, and a key part of the Bucks' rotation — is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Bucks this season, playing mostly off the bench. The 30-year-old Portis will lose $2,858,701 in salary because of the suspension, which comes with the Bucks starting post-All-Star break play fifth in the Eastern Conference — one game behind No. 4 Indiana, one game ahead of No. 6 Detroit and 3½ games ahead of No. 7 Orlando. Advertisement It's a blow to the Bucks, who are 21-10 when Portis scores at least 10 points this season. When he doesn't, they're 8-14 — and entering Thursday, they're 2-5 this season when he doesn't play with all five of those losses by at least 10 points. 'This is a very difficult set of circumstances for Bobby and our team,' Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. 'He and the Bucks organization respect the NBA/NBAPA Anti-Drug Program and will accept what's been handed down. But we 100% support Bobby. Together we will take this opportunity to grow and will have a better and stronger Bobby and Milwaukee Bucks team. He's an integral part of who we are, a huge member of the Milwaukee community, and we look forward to his return.' Here is the Milwaukee Bucks statement on Bobby Portis' 25-game suspension: — Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) The suspension is happening just when the Bucks appeared on the verge of getting their full roster together after making multiple moves at the trade deadline, including the trade of three-time All-Star wing Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks' last six games before the All-Star break with a strained left calf, but he practiced Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Clippers. Antetokounmpo still hasn't played alongside new Bucks players Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jericho Sims, who all joined the team at the deadline. Portis spoke to the media after the Bucks' Wednesday practice and was asked how much he was looking forward to seeing how the team might fare once everyone was available. 'The trade deadline was a couple of weeks ago and we are just now being able to see what it looks like,' Portis said. 'I think it's kind of fun for us going forward, especially just to pick the game apart, figure out what everybody does well and try to make it mold into one.' Advertisement Portis is in his 10th NBA season, having spent half that time with the Bucks. He was part of Milwaukee's 2021 NBA championship team and played for USA Basketball at the 2023 World Cup in Manila. He's one of four remaining players from the Bucks' championship squad, along with Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Pat Connaughton. 'From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans,' Portis said in his statement. '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.'
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
