The NBA has made its statement clear about players betting on themselves. This also applies to insider trading to benefit them or anyone associated with them. As such, they had to make an example out of Jontay Porter, who ended up getting a lifetime ban over a mere $21,000 in betting earnings. Mere because the Toronto Raptors forward has earned over $2.3 million during his short NBA career so far.
After a lengthy investigation, the NBA announced via their official channels that Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban. The league found out during the investigations in collaboration with sports betting organizations that Porter had two major violations. Porter provided insider news to a known NBA bettor for the game on March 20th. He also used another person’s account to bet on NBA games using his own money. He ended up earning approximately $21,000 from those bets.
In one of those bets he placed himself, Porter bet against his own team. Therefore, he not only used his understanding of his team but also bet himself using that knowledge. This is a combination of all the violations the NBA does not allow.
As per Spotrac, the brother of champion Michael Porter Jr. earned approximately $2.3 million during his playing career. Had he stayed on with the Raptors, he would have surpassed $2.7 million.
The league made a statement with Jontay Porter
The NBA does not allow anyone associated with the game to place bets. Thus, one cannot use proxies either. The league and sports betting organizations closely monitor friends, associates, and families of players, coaches, and staff. The Jontay Porter ban will act as a threat against such practices.
This is the first time since the late 1960s that a player has been banned for gambling. So far, the league and its players have been able to maintain their distance from being in the wrong. However, the legalization of betting brought a massive surge in bets being placed countrywide. Naturally, some may have felt tempted.
With the now former Toronto Raptors forward’s ban, at least the NBA has made it clear that it will punish those who use their position to benefit anyone. Jontay Porter’s ban is a statement.
More must-reads: