BREAKING: The NBA bans Raptors key-player due to suspicious bets, brought to its attention by licensed sports betting operators
The NBA imposed a lifetime ban on Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter on Wednesday following an investigation that uncovered his disclosure of confidential information to bettors, his limited participation in at least one game while with Toronto, and his betting on NBA games during his time in the G League.
The NBA’s attention was drawn to suspicious bets involving Jontay Porter by licensed sports betting operators and a legal betting market monitoring organization. The league emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of NBA competition and stated that Porter’s violations of game rules warranted severe punishment, as expressed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
An investigation into Porter was initiated by the NBA in late March after irregular betting patterns were observed on the over/under of his statistics in two Raptors games, where he exited early in both instances. It was revealed that Porter shared his medical status with a known sports bettor before a game against the Sacramento Kings, leading to a significant same-game parlay bet and subsequent winnings.
Porter was found to have placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online betting account, totaling over $54,000 in wagers from January to March 2024. Despite net winnings of $21,965, none of these bets involved games in which Porter participated.
The investigation also uncovered betting interest in the under on Porter’s statistics before specific games, with sportsbooks noting abnormalities in his performance and betting patterns. The majority of accounts supporting Porter unders were traced to locations in New Jersey, New York, and Arizona.
The NBA collaborated with U.S. Integrity, an organization dedicated to ensuring fair and transparent sporting competitions and upholding sports betting integrity, to monitor the irregularities surrounding Porter’s betting activities. U.S. Integrity’s partnership with sportsbooks, leagues, and gaming regulators aims to maintain the integrity of sports betting markets.
Jontay Porter, the younger brother of NBA forward Michael Porter Jr., had a brief stint with the Toronto Raptors this season, showcasing career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes per game. Despite going undrafted in 2019, Porter has had opportunities in the NBA, but his involvement in illicit betting activities has led to severe consequences and a tarnished reputation within the league.
