The NBA has launched an investigation into gambling allegations against Toronto two-way player Jontay Porter, and Raptors coach Darko Lajakovic said he learned of the incident shortly before his team's game Monday night.
A league spokesperson confirmed that an investigation has been launched. ESPN first reported the investigation regarding Porter's performance in games on Jan. 26 and March 20. In both games, Porter played briefly before being sidelined due to injury or illness.
Porter played 4 minutes, 24 seconds in the first of those games against the Clippers and 2 minutes, 43 seconds in the second game against Sacramento.
“I never doubt the injury. I never doubt the players' opinion honestly,” Rayakovic said. “Of course, we have never experienced a situation like this before.”
In both of these games, Porter couldn't come close to the points, rebounds, and 3-point shooting prop bet lines that bettors could play for. ESPN reported that Porter had 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists against the Clippers. He finished with no points, three rebounds, and one assist. Against the Kings, he had about 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Porter finished the game with no points and two rebounds.
Porter left the Raptors for Monday's home game against Brooklyn, with the team citing personal reasons. He also sat out Saturday's game against Washington for personal reasons. His locker was empty before Monday's game against the Nets, but his nameplate was still in place. Rayakovic said he had not discussed the matter with the team.
“I don't know how they will react,” Rayakovic said. “I know no one wants that situation to happen to anyone or any team. We just have to deal with it.”
In Las Vegas, Jay Cornegay, Westgate's vice president of race and sports operations, said in a text message that the sportsbook had received “a betting fraud alert” for these games, but his casino said there were no player props involved by Porter. Regarding the date in question.
The 24-year-old brother of Denver forward Michael Porter is averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games, including five starts. The 6-foot-10 Porter also played in 11 games for Memphis in 2020-21.
The league requires players to participate in an “anti-gambling training session” conducted by their teams and the NBA once a year. At least four G League players have been suspended between three and five games this season for violating gambling rules, and six NBA 2K League players will be subject to the league's gambling rules in 2022. He was disqualified for violating the rules.
According to NBA rules, any player who “bets money or anything of value on an association or NBA G League game or event” will be subject to penalties ranging from fines to “permanent disqualification” from the league by Commissioner Adam Silver. You may be subject to sanctions.
The NBA has long-standing business relationships with gaming companies, naming FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings as official gaming partners. The league also has relationships with at least 24 other gaming operators.
Last week, Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff revealed that he received threats from gamblers last season and reported them to the NBA. “They got my phone number and started sending me weird messages about where I lived and my kids and things like that,” Bickerstaff said. “So this is a dangerous game and there's certainly a fine line we're walking.”
Bickerstaff comes after Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton said a few days ago that he was tired of regularly hearing criticism from people on social media about prop bets. , I received this question.
Raptors forward Jordan Nwora offered a similar assessment Monday, saying he and other players regularly hear how their on-court performance impacts bettors.
“All the time. Nonstop,” Nwora said in comments published by The Canadian Press. “You get the message. You hear it from the sidelines. You see everyone talking about it all the time. That's the reality. That's what comes with being in the NBA. People do stupid things on a daily basis. I'm betting on it. I mean, it's part of being in the NBA. It's something that comes with it. Okay.”
And on Monday, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani said he has never bet on sports and never intentionally paid off gambling debts accumulated by his longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. Mr. Otani, commenting publicly for the first time on the illegal gambling and theft allegations involving him and his translator, said Mr. Mizuhara lied for years and stole millions of dollars.
