Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was banned by the NBA on Wednesday after the league discovered the player disclosed confidential information about his health status to known sports bettors and bet more than $54,000 on league games.
The league opened an investigation into Porter's gambling allegations in March and focused on his performance in games on Jan. 26 and March 20. In both games, Porter played briefly before leaving citing injury or illness. Porter played 4 minutes and 24 seconds against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first of those games, then played 2:43 against Sacramento in the second game.
The investigation uncovered that before the Raptors' March 20 game a known NBA bettor placed a $80,000 parlay proposition bet with an online sports betting book to win $1.1 million wagering that Porter would underperform in that game. This person placed that bet only after Porter disclosed confidential information about his health status, the league said.
"Due to the unusual betting activity and actions of the player, the $80,000 proposition bet was frozen and was not paid out," the league said on Wednesday.
The findings revealed that between January and March 2024, while on the road with either the Raptors or Raptors 905, the NBA G League team affiliated with the Raptors, Porter made a series of bets on NBA games. These bets, totaling 13 and ranging from $15 to $22,000, were placed using someone else's online betting account. In total, Porter wagered $54,094 and received a payout of $76,059 from these bets.
It's important to note that none of these bets were placed on games in which Porter was a participant.
"There is nothing more crucial than upholding the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, teams, and all those involved in our sport. That's why Jontay Porter's clear violations of our gambling rules will be met with the most stringent consequences," stated NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "While legal sports betting can bring transparency that aids in detecting suspicious activities, this case also highlights significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the current regulatory framework, including the types of wagers permitted on our games and players."
Silver mentioned that the league will collaborate with relevant parties to "protect the integrity of our league and the game."
Porter has refrained from making any public statements since the investigation commenced, and he never took the court for the Raptors again, being sidelined for the remainder of the season due to personal reasons. Before this ban, the 24-year-old Porter, who is the sibling of Denver forward Michael Porter, was averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 games, with five of those being starts. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Porter also appeared in 11 games for Memphis during the 2020-21 season.
Following NBA regulations, any player who engages in betting or wagering on games or events within the NBA or NBA G League may be subject to disciplinary actions from Commissioner Adam Silver. Consequences can range from fines to potential expulsion from the league.
This decision comes after Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets was banned from the league for violating these rules. He is the second individual to face such a ban from Silver, with the first being former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014.
Despite these strict rules, the NBA has maintained partnerships with various gaming companies over the years. FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings are recognized as official gaming partners of the league, along with collaborations with 24 other gaming operators.
