Raptors’ Jontay Porter Banned For Life From NBA After Betting Investigation

Jontay Porter’s NBA career is over.

He was banned from the NBA on April 17 following an investigation into prop-betting irregularities.

“A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games,” the NBA said in a press release.

According to the NBA release “the league’s investigation found that before the Raptors’ game on March 20, Porter disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor. Another NBA bettor Porter associated with placed an $80,000 parlay proposition bet with an online sports book to win $1.1 million, wagering that Porter would underperform in the March 20 game.”

The release states “the league’s investigation also found that Porter limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance in at least one Raptors game. In the March 20 game, Porter played only three minutes, claiming that he felt ill. Due to the unusual betting activity and actions of the player, the $80,000 proposition bet was frozen and was not paid out.”

The release also states that “from January through March 2024, while travelling with the Raptors or Raptors 905, the Raptors’ NBA G League affiliate, 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. None of the bets involved any game in which Porter played. Three of the bets were multi-game parlay bets that included one Raptors game in which Porter bet that the Raptors would lose. All three bets lost.”

NBA Commissioner weighed in on the Porter situation calling it a ‘blatant violation’:

“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.”

Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri weighed in on Porter’s investigation

“My first reaction was obviously surprise because I don’t think any of us saw something like this coming… But we act in accordance with what the NBA’s rules and regulations are and we move forward with it.”

The NBA said its investigation on the 24-year-old remains open and may produce further findings. The league said it “has shared and will continue to share information with federal prosecutors about this matter.”

Porter’s time with the Raptors

Porter joined the Raptors this season on a two-way contract and appeared in 26 games.

He averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 13.8 minutes this season.