The NBA issued a lifetime ban to Jontay Porter following an investigation into his involvement in gambling on league games, it announced Wednesday.
An investigation directed by the league found that Porter “violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes and betting on NBA games,” according to a league news release.
Porter, a center, was under a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors in the 2023-24 season.
“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,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
“While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”
According to the league, Porter played only three minutes of the Raptors’ home loss to the Sacramento Kings on March 20 before telling the team he didn’t feel well. Prior to the game, he “disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor,” the league said.
Additionally, per the NBA, another known better placed an $80,000 online wager that would have paid out $1.1 million if Porter underperformed the odds.
The prop bet was frozen and not paid after it was deemed suspicious.
The NBA also reported that between January and March as a member of the Raptors or their G League team, Raptors 905, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games through an associate’s account and won about $22,000.
Porter, 24, averaged 4.4 points through 26 games (five starts) for Toronto this season. He began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020-21, then didn’t appear in the league the next two seasons.
He last played on March 22.
His older brother, Michael Porter Jr., started 81 games for the Denver Nuggets this season.
–Field Level Media
The Minnesota Timberwolves have waited 20 years to return to this stage. The Dallas Mavericks were here two years ago, only to get bounced in five games by the eventual…
Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and fellow Frenchman and Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama anchor the NBA All-Defensive first team announced Tuesday. The Minnesota Timberwolves veteran and…
Tyasha Harris scored 13 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, including two critical free throws with 11.3 seconds left, as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Indiana Fever 88-84…
Rudy Gobert, Victor Wembanyama anchor All-Defensive team
Fever competitive but lose to Sun to remain winless
Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty get by Storm to move to 4-0
Mystics, Sparks look to end winless starts to season