The National Basketball Association (NBA) banned Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for life after a league investigation revealed Porter threw games and bet on his own sport. According to a news release from the NBA, the 24-year-old “disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor” before the Raptors’ March 20 game.
Then, another person whom Porter associated with, a known NBA bettor, placed an $80,000 bet “wagering that Porter would underperform” in the March 20 game. That person won $1.1 million on the bet.
The NBA said Porter limited his own participation in the game to influence the outcome of one or more bets. Porter left the game after playing for only three minutes, claiming he was ill.
The NBA’s press release also claimed Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games between January and March 2024. He used a friend’s online betting account and won $22,000 on those bets. One of the bets involved a Raptors game in which Porter bet his own team would lose.
According to the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, NBA players cannot place bets on NBA games. Punishment “may include a fine, suspension, expulsion and/or perpetual disqualification from further association with the association or any of its members,” according to the agreement.
“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,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
The NBA said its investigation into Porter is still open. Currently, he is not eligible for reinstatement.
