A federal judge has denied former NBA player Jontay Porter's request to allow him to resume his basketball career in Greece while he awaits sentencing for his involvement in a gambling scandal that got him banned from the league.
In a letter sent Tuesday by his lawyer, Jeff Jensen, Porter requested some modifications to his bail conditions to allow him to get his U.S. passport back, travel to Europe and reside in Patras, Greece. Jensen told the court that Porter plans to play for Greek club Promises BC.
But the request was denied by Judge Rashan DeArcy Hall, according to a court announcement on Wednesday.
In his letter to the judge, Jensen noted that federal prosecutors in Brooklyn did not oppose the request.
“The proposed changes would allow Mr. Porter to pursue the very fortunate (and rapidly dwindling) opportunity to earn an income through his primary skill set,” Jensen wrote. “Mr. Porter, and more importantly his agent, believe that such an opportunity is unlikely to arise again. … Since being banned from the NBA, he has no other opportunities to continue his basketball career. Mr. Porter now has limited opportunities to earn income through professional basketball during the prime earning years of his career as a professional athlete.”
Porter, 24, was banned from the NBA after admitting to helping gamblers by intentionally underperforming on games. He pleaded guilty last month to federal conspiracy charges. He is free on $250,000 bail while awaiting sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 18, and prosecutors estimate he could face just under three-and-a-half to just over four years in prison.
Jensen said Porter's “gambling problem was out of control.” Porter told the court he had been in rehabilitation for a gambling problem and was still receiving treatment, but that this treatment was being conducted online and would not be affected by his move to Greece. The Greek club had also arranged face-to-face counselling for Porter, and planned for Porter's mother and mother-in-law to regularly accompany him and his wife in Greece to provide further family support. Porter's wife was about to give birth, Jensen said.
Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games, including five starts, for Toronto last season, before appearing in 11 games with Memphis in 2020-21.
Porter was suspended by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in April after an NBA investigation found he had given confidential information to participants in sports betting to place bets on games.
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