There’s big trouble brewing for Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver warned that Porter could be kicked out of the league entirely if accusations of gambling on his own performance turn out to be true.
The league is currently investigating Porter’s actions in two games, back in January and March. In both instances, Porter played a short while before leaving the court due to injury or illness. Here’s the suspicious part: his performance didn’t even come close to what people were betting on! This suggests someone might have known he wouldn’t play much beforehand, giving them an unfair advantage in those bets.
It seems some sports betting companies noticed unusual betting patterns around Porter during those games. Since the NBA has partnerships with many gambling businesses, they likely received similar information. Commissioner Silver acknowledged that shady and even illegal activity can happen around sports betting, but argues that having a regulated system allows for better detection compared to a completely underground scene.
As of today, Porter remains out for the Raptors, and his absence began around the same time the news of the investigation broke. The situation is ongoing, and we’ll have to wait and see if the accusations hold weight and what consequences Porter might face.
