The NBA is investigating Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter for multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past few months. The story was broken by Adrian Wojnarowski after Porter was yanked from the Raptors playing lineup.
Jontay’s problems are over prop bets, which may not directly influence the result of the game but reportedly led to Porter specifically altering his play to ensure he could hit certain betting targets. There are two instances of this being investigated at the moment, the first coming on January 26 and the latest coming on March 20.
On January 26, Porter played for the Raptors against the Los Angeles Clippers. He would sustain an eye injury in that game after playing four minutes. He went scoreless and didn’t attempt a single three, prompting people to hit on all Porter-related prop bets if they chose the under. DraftKings also confirmed that Porter Under was the biggest moneymaker for users that night.
On March 20, Porter would leave a game against the Sacramento Kings early, again leading to DraftKings announcing that betting the under on Porter was the biggest moneymaking play of the night.
A sportsbook source has revealed that different sportsbooks became suspicious of what was happening with Porter, especially because bets crossing $10,000 and $20,000 were made on Porter the day he pulled off those ‘under’ performances.
Jontay Porter is the elder brother of NBA Champion Michael Porter Jr. Jontay is on a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, making $415,000 this season. If the allegations have even a modicum of truth to it, it’s safe to say Jontay will never play in the NBA again.
J.B. Bickerstaff Warned The NBA About Betting’s Influence On The Sport
As betting’s influence grows on the sport, multiple players have come out this season to criticize the NBA for the same. The most vocal critic was Rudy Gobert, who was even handed a fine for attacking NBA officials. But the most impassioned statement against betting in the NBA has come from Cavaliers head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff.
Bickerstaff revealed that sports gamblers are threatening his family over these bets and that he wants the NBA to step in to protect players and coaches from all of this.
“I have had some instances where some of the sports gamblers got my telephone number and were sending me messages about where I live, my kids, and all that stuff. It is a dangerous game and a fine line we’re walking. It brings added pressure, it brings a distraction to the game that can be difficult for players, coaches, referees, and everyone that’s involved in it. We really have to be careful with how close we let it get to the game and the security of the people involved in it.”
We’re seeing the adverse effects of the prevalence of betting in the NBA already. Today, it’s a role-player like Jontay Porter with limited ability to influence the game, but if betting spreads to influencing star players or officials, the game will be in a very bad place.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
