Jontay Porter was making $411,794 to play power forward and center this season for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. The former University of Missouri player had made between $2 million and $3 million since his 2021 rookie season. The NBA announced Wednesday that Porter, while playing in the NBA’s developmental league in March, placed at least 13 bets on NBA games; none of them were on games he played in. According to the NBA’s investigation, using an “associate’s” account, Porter wagered a total of $54,094 and made a total of $21,965 profit.
The NBA announced Wednesday that Porter has been banned from the league for life.
The NBA announced Wednesday that Porter has been banned from the league for life after an investigation found that he “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.”
Porter had placed NBA bets in amounts that ranged from $15 to $22,000, the league said, through that “associate’s” account. But then, the NBA announced, an $80,000 bet was placed that Porter would underperform in the Raptors’ March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings, a game the Raptors lost 123-89. Porter checked in late in the first quarter and played only about three minutes total. He claimed to be sick, the NBA said. Had the bet not been frozen, it would have paid out at over a million dollars. But a wager that large (and on a marginal player) alerted the minders of the betting app that skullduggery might be afoot, the NBA said. Those managing the betting app contacted the league, which conducted the investigation that led to Porter’s being banned.
“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…
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