Banned from the NBA since April this year for involvement in sports betting, forward Jontay Porter admitted guilt in the case. The 24-year-old player could face three to four years in prison for game manipulation, according to information from the Associated Press (AP).
In March, while still playing for the Toronto Raptors, Porter was placed on leave pending investigations. The following month, the player was officially banned from the league.
Two games in which Porter played were investigated: against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 20 and against the Phoenix Suns on March 20. The counting began after a considerable increase in “under” bets in Porter’s statistics.
Players, coaching staffs and others involved with the NBA are prohibited by contract from engaging in sports betting. Depending on the case, the league can fine, suspend or even cancel contracts due to betting.
Porter had a contract with the Raptors until the end of the 2023/2024 season. He had been in the league since 2020, when he was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Afterwards, Porter played for the Memphis Hustle (G-League), Wisconsin Herd (G-League), Motor City Cruise (G-League), Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 (G-League). The player is the brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.
Understand the case of Jontay Porter in the NBA
Investigations revealed that Porter bet $54,094 on league games, profiting approximately $22,000. Although he didn’t bet on games he played, he placed combined bets predicting the Raptors’ losses.
The athlete also shared health information with a bettor. This person invested US$80,000 in the bet, with a potential return of US$1.1 million. However, the betting operator canceled the bet due to suspicious activity.
Finally, Porter would also have limited his participation in some matches, aiming to influence the results of the bets. These violations highlight the importance of integrity in sports and the seriousness with which the NBA treats such infractions.
