Another betting controversy has rocked the sports world, and this time it concerns the NBA.
The Toronto Raptors’ Jontay Porter is “subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him”, as reported by ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Porter will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future.
NBA Star’s Brother Caught up in Betting Controversy
Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him, sources tell @DavidPurdum, @ESPNWindhorst and me. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/DncBNbDptW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2024
Jontay Porter’s NBA Betting Controversy
Two games in particular captured the attention of the NBA, according to Wojnarowski. The first game was a January 26th matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, which Toronto lost 127-107.
“In the game on Jan. 26 against the LA Clippers, there was increased betting interest on the under for Porter props, which for the night were set at around 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. There was also an over/under for Porter’s made 3-pointers, which was 0.5.
That night, Porter played just four minutes before leaving the game due to what the Raptors said was a re-aggravation of an eye injury he’d suffered four days earlier in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He did not score in the game against the Clippers, had three rebounds and one assist, and did not attempt a 3, meaning the under hit on all of the props.”
The other game in question came on March 7th, a 113-120 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
“On March 20, in a game against the Phoenix Suns, Porter played just three minutes before leaving the game due to what the Raptors said was an illness and did not return. He did not score, attempted and missed one shot, and had two rebounds.”
On both occasions, DraftKings Sportsbook reported that Porter’s under bets were the most profitable across the entire slate of NBA games that day.
This is quite an anomaly for an athlete that has not garnered strong media attention outside of his relationship with his brother.
NBA Brothers
Jontay is the younger brother of Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets.
Porter Jr. is considered as one of the cornerstones of the 2023 NBA champion Nuggets, and has only continued to improve in 2023-24. The talented forward is averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game this season.
The two brothers frequently shared the floor together prior to the NBA, most notably at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington. Coached by former NBA All-Star Brandon Roy, the pair led Nathan Hale to a perfect 29-0 record, culminating in a Washington Class 3A State Championship in 2017.
Porter would follow his older brother to the University of Missouri. Unfortunately, Porter was only able to play the 2017-18 season. Ahead of the 2018-19 college basketball season, Porter tore both his ACL and MCL during a scrimmage.
After going undrafted in the 2019 draft, Porter signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020. The 6’10 sharpshooter played in 11 games for the Grizzlies before being waived in 2021.
Porter signed with the Raptors on a two-way deal in December. The 24 year-old has appeared in 26 contests, averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
