Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter has been banned from the NBA after being found guilty of betting on games, sharing insider information with gamblers, and feigning illness to influence a bet, according to the league’s recent statement.
At 24 years old, Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets player Michael Porter Jr., has spent considerable time in the NBA’s developmental G League before his 26-game stint with Toronto this season, where he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the gravity of the offenses, stating, “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams, and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.”
The NBA’s investigation into Porter revealed that he had not only gambled extensively on NBA games but also manipulated a March 20 game by falsely claiming to be ill, which led to limited playtime and influenced betting outcomes. An $80,000 wager placed on his underperformance for that game was subsequently frozen and voided by authorities.
During his time with the Raptors’ G League affiliate, Porter made at least 13 bets totaling over $54,000 through an associate’s betting account, none of which involved games in which he played. Despite this, three of these bets included parlays, with one specifically betting against Toronto.
The NBA confirmed that from these bets, Porter profited nearly $22,000.
The National Basketball Players Association has pledged to support Porter during this period and underscored the importance of adhering to NBA gambling policies to preserve the integrity of the sport.
Porter marks the first NBA player banned for gambling since Jack Molinas in 1954, highlighted by the historical context of gambling within the sport and the modern proliferation of legal sports betting.
This incident adds to the complex narrative of gambling in sports, reminiscent of the 2007 NBA gambling scandal involving referee Tim Donaghy. The issue underscores ongoing concerns about the adequacy of regulatory frameworks in place to handle such matters, as pointed out by Silver.
The revelation of Porter’s actions has reportedly taken his team by surprise, with Raptors president Masai Ujiri expressing disappointment and concern for the implications on the player, the team, and the league.
This development comes as sports betting gains traction across the United States, with legal betting now possible in 38 states and facilitated by mobile technology in 30 states and Washington, D.C.
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