Jontay Porter playing for the Toronto Raptors in 2024. Photo by David Zalubowski via AP Photo
Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is being investigated by the NBA for participating in a potential betting scheme involving his participation in certain games.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the issue stems from prop bets involving Porter which were placed on January 26 and March 20 of this year. On those days, the Raptors played the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, respectively.
Intricate Scheme
On January 26, props for Porter were set at 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Other props included over 0.5 three-pointers made. Porter played four minutes in the game, recording three rebounds and one assist. He also failed to attempt a three, therefore hitting all of those props.
The brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. was then removed from the game, due to what the Raptors said was a re-aggravation of an eye injury. The following day, DraftKings reported that the props on Porter were the most successful bets of the entire night.
Then, on March 20, props for Porter were set at over/under 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds prior to the game, according to DraftKings. He played just three minutes in the game that night against the Phoenix Suns. He once again hit those marks before leaving the game with an “illness” and failing to return.
As was the case on January 26, DraftKings announced the following night that the props on Porter were the most successful of the entire evening. This raised red flags, and Porter is now under investigation by the league, which strictly prohibits players from betting on any league events.
Listed as Absent
Porter missed the Raptors’ last game against the Washington Wizards, which they lost by a score of 112-109. The game marked Toronto’s tenth straight loss, and they are now 12th in the Eastern Conference at 23-48.
Porter is also listed as out for Monday night’s matchup versus the Brooklyn Nets, leading to suspicion. If he is found guilty, punishments could include a fine, suspension, or possibly the termination of his contract.
This season, Porter is averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games played. He has averaged 14 minutes played per game. This figure is higher than the four and three minutes he played in the aforementioned games. Whether or not he will be able to adjust those numbers by playing further this season remains to be seen.
