2024-2025 Around the NBA Thread

[Hoop Head]

I can't stomach Portis but this is a really stupid suspension. Tramadol is one of the weakest RX required painkillers out there, far weaker than oxycodone or hyrdocodone, of which neither I expect NBA players would get suspended for having in their system. 25 games seems ludicrous.

Miles Bridges got 30 games for beating his GF to a pulp.

He probably didn't have a prescription for it. I can't see a player being suspended for it otherwise. Tramadol is weak but if.he's taking someone else's RX then it would make sense. It's more breaking the rules in place than the drug itself, as we saw with Ayton a few years back.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can't stomach Portis but this is a really stupid suspension. Tramadol is one of the weakest RX required painkillers out there, far weaker than oxycodone or hyrdocodone, of which neither I expect NBA players would get suspended for having in their system. 25 games seems ludicrous.

Miles Bridges got 30 games for beating his GF to a pulp.

Totally agree. I’ve been taking Tramadol off and on lately post knee surgery and there’s not even a sense of getting “high” like there is with oxy or hydrocodone., for me it’s akin to taking really strong Tylenol. This seems like a bad rule.

 

[Hoop Head]

Found more in the Portis situation....

“I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation,” Portis said in a statement released by the team. “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.”

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.

Milwaukee's Bobby Portis suspended after he mistakenly took painkiller Tramadol rather than Toradol

The NBA has suspended Milwaukee forward Bobby Portis Jr. for 25 games without pay because he tested positive for the painkiller Tramadol, a violation of the league’s anti-drug program.

apnews.com

 

[Phrazbit]

Found more in the Portis situation....

Milwaukee's Bobby Portis suspended after he mistakenly took painkiller Tramadol rather than Toradol

The NBA has suspended Milwaukee forward Bobby Portis Jr. for 25 games without pay because he tested positive for the painkiller Tramadol, a violation of the league’s anti-drug program.

apnews.com

Wow... that is even MORE absurd than I first thought.

Why is the NBA so scared of Tramodol?

 

[Covert Rain]

Totally agree. I’ve been taking Tramadol off and on lately post knee surgery and there’s not even a sense of getting “high” like there is with oxy or hydrocodone., for me it’s akin to taking really strong Tylenol. This seems like a bad rule.

I am allergic to some pain killers so I have taken Tramadol. So benign. This is ridiculous.

 

[Hoop Head]

Wow... that is even MORE absurd than I first thought.

Why is the NBA so scared of Tramodol?

It's actually viewed a a schedule 4 controlled substance, which I didn't know until now. It's also viewed as a narcotic opoid, which is also strange to me. I've been prescribed it before and thought it as an alternative for narcotic opioids. I remember it being weak, like Cheese said basically a strong Tylenol.

If I had to guess I'd say it got lumped in with more dangerous pain killers and a correction has never been made since the public perception of removing controlled substance labeling and restrictions of a pain killer would c spark conversations those in power don't want to have. The NBA just follows what the FDA and government says regarding narcotics.

Source for controlled substance/opioid description

Is tramadol a controlled substance / narcotic opioid?

Official answer: The painkiller tramadol is considered a narcotic (opioid) and a controlled substance by the U.S. federal government...

www.drugs.com

 

[Carolinacacti]

I've been on Tramadol for a decade for arthritis. Should take one every four hours as needed. I pop four when I get up in the morning. I believe it gives me a little pick up like speed. Forgot to take it many times and it sucked at work but no Joneies

 

[Brian in Mesa]

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