Honestly, I was skeptical that NBA commissioner Adam Silver would do what was necessary if the allegations that now-former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was gambling on NBA games were true. When news broke the Association was investigating Porter for “betting irregularities” surrounding two Raptors games, I called for a “lifetime ban”. Well, Silver sacked up and booted Porter out of the NBA for life Tuesday, April 17th.
In an official release by the NBA’s Public Relations, Silver explained: “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.”
First, duhhhh. Second, and most importantly, thank god Silver did what needed to be done. If Porter, or any player, gambles on NBA games and isn’t banned for life, then the Association will crumble and be viewed as WWE, at best.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver delivered a lifetime ban to former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for gambling on NBA games (Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
Silver continued: “While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players.” This thought is a little harder for me to weigh in on.
READ: NBA Is Investigating Raptors’ Jontay Porter For Gambling ‘Irregularities’
While player props are a fun way to bet on team sports, I’m open to the idea that it creates more ways for players to involve themselves in “match-fixing”. The intel Porter provided to an NBA bettor about his health status for a March 20th game was used as a “free square” by that bettor in a same-game parlay. Porter’s actions were next-level stupid.
Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter looks to hand off the ball during a game vs. the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Michigan. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Association stated “Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online betting account. These bets ranged in size from $15 to $22,000, for a total of $54,094. The total payout from these bets was “76,059, resulting in net winnings of $21,965.” I.e. this donut ended his NBA career, which netted Porter millions of dollars, for $21,965.
Perhaps the unnamed NBA bettor was paying Porter for information. However, Jontay’s brother, Michael Porter Jr., is a starter for the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets. So, Jontay would’ve never ended up broke. Yet, he tarnished his, the NBA’s, and possibly his brother Michael’s reputations for money that wouldn’t have changed his life.
In the most egregious move made by Porter in this whole thing, he bet that the Raptors would lose. Granted, Porter didn’t play in any of the Toronto games he bet on. But, still, betting on your team to lose is beyond scummy. As interesting as it is to talk about this story. I’ll leave it to the internet, which remains undefeated, to dunk on Jontay.
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