Sports betting has gripped the world like never before and the NBA has not remained an isolated sport, with betting being one of the most talked about topics in the NBA circle lately.
Many shocking revelations have been made in the past couple of weeks by the players and coaches regarding game fixing and gambling frenzy, along with its affects on the game. From Tyrese Haliburton to J.B. Bickerstaff, the grim reality of sports betting has been revealed. But the issue involving the Toronto Raptors’ Jontay Porter is rather surprising and can lead to severe consequences.
Jontay Porter under investigation for speculated betting case
After J.B. Bickerstaff’s shocking revelation on sports bettors, the NBA has taken a proactive stance on fighting the problem. The NBA has speculated Jontay Porter’s involvement in betting irregularities. The 24-year-old has displayed suspicious activities by underperforming in games when bets were made on his prop. As of now, two of his past games have raised skepticism, one of them being the game against the LA Clippers on Jan. 26.
The bets made on Porter’s prop were 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while the over/under on 3-pointers was 0.5. The forward left the floor after four minutes of play, citing an eye injury that he had received four days ago when the Raptors faced the Memphis Grizzlies. He bagged no points but managed to grab 3 rebounds and an assist.
According to the DraftKings Sportsbook reports, the bettors who had gambled the under on the forward’s 3-pointers had gained a massive amount, the highest of that entire game day.
Another game that led to the NBA’s investigation was against the Sacramento Kings a few days ago, on March 20. After appearing for three minutes on the hardwood, Porter left with an illness, as explained by the franchise later. He did attempt a shot but missed it and exited with two rebounds. The over/under on his Sportsbook player prop was 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds that evening.
The player has been ruled out of the squad for Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets and further investigations will be made into his case for potential punishment.
What punishment will Jontay Porter receive if found guilty?
The NBA provides anti-gambling training to the players every season despite their collaboration with betting sites and entertaining live courtside gambling sessions. There are severe punishments if players are found guilty and associated with betting.
Although Jontay Porter has not been found guilty yet, he has come under scrutiny. The NBA has strict guidance against gambling, and if any player fails to follow the rules set by the league, he could face hefty fines, suspension or termination of contract. The punishment will be finalized by the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver.
Porter has averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting at 38.5% from the floor and 33.3% from 3-pointers this season. With the betting probe, his NBA career can have massive repercussions that both the player and franchise would like to avoid.
