NBA PED Suspension Props: Zion, LeBron, Jokic All Given Odds on Potential Suspension This Season; Forward Most Likely Suspended Next

• Books are offering prop bets on which NBA player will be next to be issued a suspension for PED use
• There’s also a prop wager on which position that player will play
• Already this season, three players were issued suspension under the NBA’s antidrug policy

The NBA is putting the pedal to the metal when it comes to PED suspensions.

Not even a month into the 2019-20 season and already three players are sitting out 25 game suspensions following positive drug tests.

Books are offering odds on who will be next, and on what position they will play. They have a prop wager speculating on the next player to be issued a PED suspension, and it offers odds on some of the biggest names in the league testing positive.

A second prop asks bettors to make a play on what position the next player issued a PED suspension will play.

Position of Next NBA Player to be Issued PED Suspension During 2019-20 Season

Odds taken on November 8, 2019.

Heavy Year For PED Suspensions

Already this season, the NBA has tied the record for total players suspended after positive drug tests. The previous high-water for PED suspensions was two in 2016-17. That season, OJ Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies (permanent ban), Joakim Noah of the New York Knicks (20 games) and Mitch McGary (15 games) of the Oklahoma City Thunder were issued league-enforced PED sit-downs.

Thus far this season, 25-game PED suspensions have taken down a small forward (Wilson Chandler of the Brooklyn Nets), a power forward (John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks) and a center (DeAndre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns).

NBA is suspending John Collins 25 games without pay for violating the league’s Anti-Drug policy

Hawks big man tested positive for a growth hormone pic.twitter.com/TgNbX84HG5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2019

The theory regarding PED’s is that they’re designed to make a player bigger and stronger. Based on that assumption, logic would suggest that big men would also be the biggest abuser. But that’s not been the case.

The NBA’s 14 PED suspensions since the 2009-10 season saw the league issuing six enforced rests to guards, six to forwards and just two to centers.

25-game suspension for John Collins will cost $610,582. This is the third player (Wilson Chandler and Deandre Ayton) that has been suspended 25 games for violating the Anti-Drug Policy. Unprecedented right now.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 5, 2019

The past three seasons found three guards, three forwards and two centers going down for violations of the NBA anti-drug policy. But it’s been five in a row to forwards (three) and centers (two) since Mayo was suspended in 2016-17.

Based on nothing more than the position being due, put your money on a guard up next.

Pick: Guard (+190)

Why Sudden Rash of PED Suspensions?

Under the current NBA CBA, players can be randomly tested up to four times a year. But the league is limited to 1,525 total tests in a year and 600 during an offseason.

Both Chandler (Ipamorelin) and Collins (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2) tested positive for growth hormone-related substances. But Ayton was tagged for an overabundance of the diuretic. Diuretics help increase urination, and that makes them ideal masking agents for PED abusers seeking to get evidence out of their system as quickly as possible.

🚨Best Shape of His Life Alert 🚨

DeAndre Ayton talking gains on the Suns’ first day of training camp: pic.twitter.com/57qgWFymJV

— tyler dunn (@itstylerdunn) October 1, 2019

They’re substances generally used by patients with high blood pressure, or to help prevent heart of liver failure. A second-year NBA player taking a diuretic is certainly suspicious.

Another issue leading to increased positive tests is the wild west of supplements in the USA. The FDA really has little in way the regulation in regards to supplements, so it’s entirely possible that athletes have no idea what substances they’re ingesting when they take them.

Next NBA Player Issued PED Suspension During 2019-20 Season

Odds taken on November 8, 2019.

Baseball endured its steroid scandal, seeing major stars like Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez issued suspensions. Super Bowl 53 MVP Julian Edelman began the 2018 NFL season sitting out a four-game PED suspension.

This is the closest the NBA’s come to a PED scandal. Ayton was the first player chosen in the 2018 draft. Collins was on the verge of stardom. But could an NBA superstar ever go down for PED use?

First Wilson Chandler, then DeAndre Ayton, now John Collins. The promising #Hawks forward has been suspended for 25 games for testing positive to Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2. Huge blow for Atlanta with the NBA cracking down on PED use right now. Who’s going to be next? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/R0gk7K6Siv

— SportsbyFry (@sportsbyfry) November 5, 2019

In recent years, both former NBA coach George Karl and Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose have hinted at widespread PED use without naming names.

But speculating on a player testing positive who’s never shown an inkling of PED use just isn’t fair.