Jontay Porter gets NBA lifetime ban for betting on games involving his own team

Jontay Porter gets NBA lifetime ban for betting on himself, and taking the under

Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA after a widespread gambling scandal that included betting on NBA games involving his own team.

Porter is the younger brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. He caught on with the Toronto Raptors this year after an injury-plagued career, appearing in 26 games before being sidelined during the investigation. Porter previously played in five games with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-2021 season.

The NBA opened an investigation on Porter last month over oddities involving his player prop lines. They uncovered something much more salacious: Porter bet on the Raptors to lose as a member of the team.

NBA also found that Porter “disclosed confidential information to sports bettors” which included knowingly limiting his own playing time for betting purposes, according to insider Shams Charania. As a member of the Raptors this season, Porter reportedly placed 13 bets on NBA games using a burner account between Jan. and March.

Here’s the full statement from the NBA:

Charania added in a follow-up post: “Investigation shows on the 13 NBA bets Porter made: Total payout was $76,059, resulting in net winnings of $21,965.” Was it really worth it for Porter? It sure doesn’t seem like it.

Porter allegedly tanked his own player prop lines while in connection with gamblers. Porter really bet on himself and took the under. Here are additional details via Adrian Wojnarowski’s March report at ESPN:

In the game on Jan. 26 against the LA Clippers, there was increased betting interest on the under for Porter props, which for the night were set at around 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. There was also an over/under for Porter’s made 3-pointers, which was 0.5.

That evening, Porter played just four minutes before leaving the game because of what the Raptors said was an aggravation of an eye injury he had suffered four days earlier against the Memphis Grizzlies. Porter did not score against the Clippers but had three rebounds and one assist, and he did not attempt a 3, meaning the under hit on all of the props.

The next day, as part of a daily report to users on betting results, DraftKings Sportsbook stated that the under on Porter’s 3-pointers was the biggest money winner for bettors of any NBA player props from games that evening.

The NBA made an example out of Porter for being incredibly reckless and careless in his position. We’ll update this story as it develops.