NBA Is Investigating Raptors’ Jontay Porter For Gambling ‘Irregularities’

If the allegations about Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter are true, NBA commissioner Adam Silver could drop the first-ever "ban-hammer" for gambling. The NBA is investigating Porter for "multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past several months," according to ESPN’s David Payne Purdum.

The league is looking into Porter’s unusual activity, betting and otherwise, in a January 26th game against the Los Angeles Clippers and a March 20th game against the Sacramento Kings. Porter left both games early with injuries. 

In the Clippers game, Porter "re-aggravated" an eye injury from four days earlier and exited after just four minutes. His points prop was 5.5 vs. the Clippers, 4.5 for rebounds, 1.5 for assists, and 0.5 for made 3-pointers. Purdum reports that there was "increased betting interest on the under." Of course, Porter went scoreless with just 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and no 3-point attempts. Hmmm. 

Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is being investigated by the NBA for "betting irregularities". (Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports)

Coincidentally (or not), the same thing happened two months later. Porter played only three minutes vs. the Suns before leaving with an "illness." Again, Porter didn’t score and grabbed just 2 boards. His point prop was 7.5 and his rebound prop was 5.5 against Sacramento.

A sportsbook industry source told ESPN several betting accounts tried to place $10,000 and $20,000 bets on Porter’s unders against the Clippers. "And then, just a few days ago [vs. the Suns], the same thing. We had a bunch of people trying to bet under for more," says the source. Sportsbooks typically cap prop bets at $1,000-2,000, so I’m assuming these bets were never taken. 

How should the NBA handle this if the Jontay Porter allegations are proven true? 

"Integrity" is the most important thing for professional sports leagues. So, given the gambling scandal with disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy, the NBA has to come down hard on Porter if there is any truth in these allegations. 

And by "come down hard," I mean a lifetime ban. If people can legitimately question the results of these games, the NBA, or any league for that matter, ceases to exist. To its credit, the NBA has taken gambling very seriously since the Donaghy incident. 

Toronto Raptors big Jontay Porter reacts after a play against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

I can vouch for this. When I worked for the Clippers as a season ticket sales executive in 2012, I had to sign a league-wide agreement to not bet on NBA games. This policy applies to every NBA employee, including players and coaches. 

Humorously, this Porter report was released the same day Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made a public statement regarding allegations involving his interpreter illegally betting with bookies in Southern California. This wasn't lost on the internet, who hilariously dunked on Porter and the NBA once news broke. 

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