If you turn on an NBA game nowadays, you are going to be inundated with gambling ads. Companies are partnering with the league and pushing their products, looking to get fans involved as much as possible in betting on games.
In today’s gambling landscape, things go well beyond just picking a team to win or an over/under on a total. You can bet on player props and even wager on play-by-play outcomes on certain apps.
It is something fans can easily get wrapped up in, but there are some dangers about players being involved as well. That is why the NBA is taking their investigation into Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter so seriously.
Porter is under investigation by the NBA after attention was brought to some irregularities in games he was involved in. Games on January 26th and March 20th had a suspiciously high amount of wagers and money being placed on under props for Porter, who left both games with and injury and cashed the unders.
NBA personnel, including players, coaches and anyone who is an employee of the league, is prohibited from betting on NBA events. Fines and even termination of contracts can occur, as it is a serious offense.
Jontay’s brother, Michael Porter Jr., is also in the NBA. He plays for the defending champion Denver Nuggets and was asked about what his brother is dealing with following Denver’s loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Michael stood up for his brother, defending him amid the allegations.
“I’ve known my brother my whole life. I know what type of dude he is and I know he’s excited to play basketball, and I highly doubt he would do anything to put that in jeopardy,” Michael Porter Jr. said.
These are serious offenses being brought against Jontay, as the integrity of the game, which is already questioned by some, is at stake. This is not something the NBA wants to be dealing with, as they will take their time and get to the bottom of it.
Gambling has taken over sports with more and more states legalizing it. It has changed how some players approach the game, as they are reminded on a daily basis someone has money riding on their performance.
“Yeah, especially the last few years you hear people in the crowd saying what they need you to score tonight or what they don’t want you to score,” he said. “Every night you’re disappointing someone. You’re disappointing people if you score too much because they may have bet on the under, and you’re disappointing people if you didn’t score enough.
“So, it’s a part of the game now. I think that it’s obviously a dangerous habit. It’s a dangerous vice for people,” he added. “You know, the love of money is the root of all evil. So, I think that even though it is a thing, we as players just have to accept that. We get paid a lot of money to play this game, and I know these people, these fans, they want to make some money, as well.
“It’s definitely something that has kind of taken over the sporting world — I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
For the people who are making all of the money, such as the NBA, it is certainly a good thing. But for the players who are receiving the abuse, or potentially getting caught up in it such as Jontay, it is a bad thing.
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