Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban by the NBA after breaching betting rules, the league announced today.
The 24-year-old forward was found to have disclosed confidential information about his fitness to sports bettors, limiting his participation in games for betting purposes. Additionally, Porter was found to have placed bets on NBA games using a friend’s online account.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver condemned Porter’s actions, stating that his “blatant violations” warranted the harshest punishment. “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams, and everyone associated with our sport,” Silver said.
The investigation revealed that Porter disclosed information about his fitness to a known sports bettor before a game against the Sacramento Kings in March. Porter then claimed to be ill and only played for three minutes in that game. An associate of Porter had placed an $80,000 bet that he would underperform in the game, but the wager was frozen due to Porter’s actions and suspicious betting activity.
Furthermore, Porter was found to have bet $54,000 on 13 NBA games using a friend’s online account between January and March 2024, none of which were games he played in. NBA players are prohibited from betting on NBA games under league rules.
Silver also raised concerns about the regulatory framework in place for sports betting, stating that the incident highlighted the need for greater transparency and oversight in the industry.
The NBA stated that the investigation into Porter’s actions remains open and further findings may be revealed in the future.
