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Jontay Porter, previously a two-way player for the Toronto Raptors, has been permanently banned from the NBA following an investigation that uncovered his involvement in disclosing confidential information to sports bettors and placing bets on games.
Commissioner Adam Silver invoked the lifetime ban, making Porter the second individual in NBA history to face such consequences for violating league rules, the first being former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014.
The investigation was initiated after the league became aware of irregular betting activities surrounding Porter's performance in a game on March 20. It was revealed that Porter had shared information about his health status with a bettor before the game, prompting the individual to place an $80,000 US bet on Porter not meeting certain performance benchmarks in parlays through an online sportsbook. Porter subsequently removed himself from the game early, citing illness, and none of his statistics matched the parameters set in the bet. The NBA froze the bet, which would have resulted in a $1.1 million payout, and launched an investigation.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of NBA competition, stating, “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.”
Porter, the brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., was found to have placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using another person's betting account, totaling $54,094 in wagers. These bets did not involve any games in which Porter participated, but included multi-game parlays, including one where he bet on the Raptors to lose. All three of these parlays resulted in losses.
Silver highlighted the need for an enhanced regulatory framework, stating, “While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players.”
Porter has remained silent since the investigation commenced and did not play for the Raptors again, being listed as out for personal reasons for the remainder of the season.
By fLEXI tEAM