The NBA is looking into Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors due to gambling suspicions. This was brought to the attention of Raptors coach Darko Rajaković shortly before their recent game. The investigation, as reported by ESPN, revolves around Porter’s performance in games on Jan. 26 and March 20, where he played briefly before leaving due to injury or illness.
Rajaković expressed trust in players’ honesty and injury reports but acknowledged this as a new situation for him. In those two games, Porter fell short of the betting lines for points, rebounds, and 3-pointers.
Porter was absent from Monday’s game due to personal reasons and had been out for another game for similar reasons. His locker was empty, and the team had not discussed the matter.
There were alerts about betting irregularities regarding those games in Las Vegas, but no specific player props involving Porter were noted. The 24-year-old Porter, brother of Denver forward Michael Porter, has had a decent performance in games this season, averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
NBA players are required to attend anti-gambling training sessions annually. Any player found violating gambling policies could face penalties ranging from fines to permanent disqualification from the league. The NBA has established partnerships with various gaming companies over the years.
Recent incidents involving threats from gamblers towards coaches and criticism from social media about prop bets have highlighted the influence of gambling on NBA games. Players like Jordan Nwora have acknowledged being aware of how their performance affects bettors. Additionally, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani addressed allegations of illegal gambling involving his longtime interpreter.
