The NBA suspended Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter on Wednesday for allegedly betting on games, passing information to gamblers and claiming illness to influence betting. Announced.
Porter, a 6-foot-10 power forward and center, attended the University of Missouri and has spent much of his professional career in the NBA’s developing G League.
The 24-year-old appeared in 26 games for Toronto this season, averaging 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He also played in 11 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds.
“Nothing is more important to fans, teams, and everyone involved in the sport than protecting the integrity of NBA competition, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violation of the rules of the game is the most important,” NBA Commissioner Adam said. He will receive severe punishment.” Silver said in a statement.
Representatives from the players’ association could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The NBA announced that an investigation found that Porter engaged in extensive gambling, contrary to league regulations.
He allegedly “disclosed confidential information” about his health to someone he knew to be an NBA bettor ahead of a March 20 game.
Porter became ill during the game and played just three minutes, the league announced.
An $80,000 bet was placed online before the March 20th game that would have paid out $1.1 million if the result was underperformance, but due to its unusually high value, the stake was “frozen” and “paid out”. The NBA announced,
The league announced in March that Porter bet on NBA games at least 13 times using an “affiliated online betting account” while he was with the G League’s Raptors.
None of those bets were on Raptors games, according to the league. Those bets ranged from $15 to $22,000 for a total of $54,094, according to the NBA. He ultimately won $21,965 on his March bet.
“While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or anomalous activity, this issue also raises important questions about the adequacy of the regulatory framework currently in place,” Silver said. “
Porter is believed to be the first NBA player to be suspended for gambling since Jack Molinas of the Fort Wayne Pistons was suspended in 1954 for allegedly betting on games.
The league was hit by a gambling scandal in 2007, when disgraced referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to two felonies related to betting on NBA games and secretly advising professional gamblers.
Gambling was once completely taboo in professional and high-level college sports, with legal betting only allowed in Nevada.
But sports betting has been in full swing since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that required states to ban such gambling.
Sports betting is currently legal and operating in 38 states and the District of Columbia. In 30 states and capitals. Bettors can place bets with just a tap on their mobile phone.
