The NBA has implemented a new rule to prevent cases similar to that of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who was banned from the league due to his involvement in betting.
During his time with the Canadian team, Porter placed 13 bets, while under a two-way contract, which allowed him to also play in the G-League.
To avoid situations like this, the NBA announced a strategic partnership with bookmakers. In the 2024/25 season, players with the lowest salaries, including those on two-way or ten-day contracts, will not be available for under bets. This measure was confirmed by the league in an official press release.
League positioning
“We are pleased that these measures have been taken to help protect the integrity of our games,” the NBA said.
Although Jontay Porter‘s name has not been officially mentioned, the new rule is widely seen as a response to his case. The 24-year-old was permanently suspended at the end of last season for violating the club’s betting policy.
Investigations revealed 13 bets made by Porter, using a friend’s account, with amounts between US$15 and US$22 thousand, totaling US$54,094. Of those bets, three involved Raptors losses, but all resulted in losses.
However, Porter made a profit of $21,965 in total.
Other NBA betting cases
Porter was not the only case of involvement in NBA betting. Other players, such as Jack Molinas (1954), Tony Jackson and Doug Moe (1961), and Roger Brown (1966), were also banned for similar reasons. Additionally, the league has punished athletes for other reasons, especially illegal substance abuse.
Richard Dumas was the last to be banned for this reason, in 1995. OJ Mayo, punished in 2016, could have requested a return since 2018, but he didn’t. In light of these incidents, Commissioner Adam Silver assured that the NBA will continue working to combat illegal betting.
“While sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious activity, all of this still raises the stakes for regulation, which could include various types of bets involving our games and players. But by working closely with the major bookmakers, we will continue to look for ways to keep our league and our game safe,” said Silver.
Porter, who had a brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020/21, received a break from the Raptors last season, appearing in 26 games and averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in about 12 minutes per game. He is the brother of Michael Porter, champion with the Denver Nuggets in the 2022/23 season.
