Jontay Porter NBA Gambling Investigation: What Do We Know? What’s Next?

The sports world has been rocked by gambling controversies over the last week. First, it was the MLB’s Shohei Ohtani firing interpreter Ippei Mizuhara over the latter allegedly stealing millions of dollars from the baseball star and now Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is currently under NBA investigation.

Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him, sources tell @DavidPurdum, @ESPNWindhorst and me. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/DncBNbDptW

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2024

On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Porter — who plays for the Toronto Raptors — is being investigated by the NBA “following multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past several months.” It’s quite a messy issue as Porter is being accused of faking injuries so that he could finish with the Under on certain prop bets earlier this season.

So, what does the situation mean for Porter both in the present and future? Let’s talk about it.

Jontay Porter Gambling Controversy: What We Know About the NBA Investigation

As mentioned before, the NBA’s investigation is looking into irregularities when it comes to recent prop bets concerning the Toronto Raptors big man.

Sources close to ESPN indicate that sportsbooks noted an “increased betting interest” regarding Porter-related props ahead of the Raptors’ game against the LA Clippers on Jan. 26. The 24-year-old was projected to score 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 threes made that night but wound up finishing with Under on each prop.

Normally, that wouldn’t be too suspicious but that isn’t the case here. What’s alarming is that Porter exited the game after playing only four minutes due to an eye injury. DraftKings Sportsbook told its users the following day that the Under on Porter’s three-point total made more money than any other NBA player prop that evening.

Sources told ESPN that multiple accounts attempted to wager between $10,000 and $20,000 on Porter’s props for that game.

Jontay Porter has landed in hot water due to betting irregularities. 

It doesn’t end there, though. Porter also only played just under three minutes against the Sacramento Kings on March 20 before leaving the game with an “illness.” He was projected to record 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds but finished with the Under again. Fast forward to the following day when DraftKings told its users that no props made more money than Porter’s that night.

Porter, who’s the younger brother of Denver Nuggets star forward Michael, has also missed the Raptors’ last two games due to “personal reasons.” It’ll be interesting to see if his absence is related to the ongoing NBA investigation.

While the Raptors have yet to comment on the situation, head coach Darko Rajaković said that he didn’t learn about the issue until Monday. He said that he’s never dealt with a situation like this before, however, Toronto has “just got to deal with it.”

Jontay Porter Gambling Controversy: What’s Next for Toronto Raptors Forward?

Now that it’s clear that the NBA is investigating Jontay Porter, it’s only natural that fans are wondering what’s next for the former Missouri Tiger.

If it’s true that Porter was betting on NBA games, a hefty suspension is likely on its way. We saw the NHL suspend the Ottawa Senators’ Shane Pinto for 41 games this season and he wasn’t even betting on his own team’s contests. Hell, Pete Rose is still banned from the MLB for life after betting on Cincinnati Reds games nearly 40 years ago.

Even if Porter doesn’t earn a lifetime ban, it’s hard to imagine another franchise giving him a shot. Assembling a competitive roster is the key to success across all team sports and the last thing an NBA wants is a player who seemingly tanked performances and faked injuries so that his props could hit the Under. That’s just not the type of person who a coach and teammates can trust.

Jontay Porter’s NBA career could be over following the league’s investigation. 

Secondly, the fact that Porter isn’t that great of a player also makes his future less clear. If he was a perennial all-star, I could see another team giving him a shot, but he’s a fringe player who’s only averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with .385/.333/.833 shooting splits. Even if there wasn’t a gambling controversy, there’s a decent chance that Porter wouldn’t last much longer in the league.

If Porter can clear his name, his career will likely resume to what it was — a fringe player who bounces between the NBA and G League.

However, if he’s guilty, we may have already seen the last of the Columbia, MO native in the Association.

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Jontay Porter Gambling FAQ

What did Jontay Porter do?

Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is under NBA investigation due to betting irregularities regarding prop bets on Jan. 26 and March 20.

Will the NBA suspend Jontay Porter?

The NBA will likely suspend Jontay Porter if they find that he’s guilty of throwing games/faking injuries to ensure that the Under hits on specific props.

Can NBA players bet on games?

Like most sports, NBA players and league employees cannot bet on the product, whether it’s straight wagers or prop bets. Violating this policy could lead to fines, suspensions, and even contract termination.

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