Have games been rigged?
Betting scandal rocks the NBA
By Seb Dumitru
March 30, 2024, 10:59 a.m
A Toronto Raptors player is suspected of manipulating the outcome of so-called “prop bets” by allowing himself to be substituted early. If the allegations are true, it would be the biggest betting scandal since sports betting was legalized in 2018.
A betting scandal rocks the NBA. As ESPN first reported, the league began opening an internal investigation into one of its own players this week. Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors is said to have been involved in an eye-catching series of so-called “prop bets” on his own performances. These side bets allow gamblers to bet on a number of statistical combinations. Porter is suspected of manipulating the outcome of these bets on behalf of third parties by allowing himself to be substituted early. NBA players and team employees are strictly prohibited from betting on NBA games and events.
This scandal is the latest in a recent troubling series of controversies surrounding sports betting. Major League Baseball is currently investigating a scandalous situation involving LA Dodgers megastar Shohei Ohtani, his interpreter and at least $4.5 million. The U.S. Gambling Regulatory Commission is investigating the entire Temple University men’s basketball team for “suspicious betting activity.” However, the Porter situation could become the worst betting scandal since legalization and the associated sports gambling boom began six years ago.
Jontay Who?
Jontay Porter is the younger brother of Michael Porter Jr., the Denver Nuggets’ star forward, who struggled with major injury concerns early in his career before physically stabilizing and becoming an integral part of the reigning NBA champions’ rotation . Only a year apart, they grew up together, played on the same high school teams and in college at the University of Missouri.
In 2018, Jontay Porter tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament, and suffered another ACL tear during his rehab in 2019. He went undrafted and signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020, who released him after eleven games. Stations with the G-League clubs in Memphis, Detroit, Milwaukee and Toronto preceded his involvement with the Raptors. In Toronto, Porter finally received a two-way deal that will pay him $415,000 this season.
Porter almost hung up his basketball shoes, but his brother convinced him to keep going. This season, the 2.11 meter man seemed to have finally found a niche and a role with the Canadian club in the rebuilding process. He played 26 games, scored ten points or more five times, and established himself with 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists as part of Darko Rajakovic’s rotation, whose system relies on spacing and movement. Almost three weeks ago, in a game against his older brother and the Nuggets, he set a new career high with 14 points and four three-pointers in 22 minutes. The scene when he swapped jerseys with his brother in the center circle after the game was heartwarming. It could remain the highlight of Porter’s professional career, which is suddenly on the rocks.
Alarming betting patterns discovered
The investigation is currently focusing on two games in which Porter took part. The first game took place on January 26th between the Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers. In that game, Porter played 4:24 minutes, scored zero points, three rebounds and one assist. He left the game citing aggravation of a previous eye injury from a previous game.
The second game took place on March 20 between the Raptors and the Sacramento Kings. Porter’s playing time was again limited, this time to 2:43 minutes. He left the game early again, this time citing illness. Porter scored zero points, two rebounds and zero assists.
The NBA is currently investigating these two games due to irregular and alarming betting patterns related to Porter’s prop betting. In the first game, there were prop lines for Porter’s points (over/under 5.5), rebounds (4.5), assists (1.5) and three-pointers made (0.5). In the second game, Porter had received betting lines for 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
DraftKings, one of the country’s largest betting companies and one of more than 20 official NBA gambling partners, reported that Porter bets were the highest-paying bets on both days. On the night of the January game, the “under” on Porter’s three-pointer was the biggest payout among all game-day NBA props. Even after the game on March 20, it was said that Porter bets were the top money-maker throughout the NBA game day.
Prop bets are typically capped at $1,000 to $2,000. A source told ESPN that several betting accounts attempted to place $10,000 and $20,000 bets on Porter props before the Clippers game. A similar pattern is said to have emerged later against the Kings.
Pandora’s Box
So did Porter deliberately ensure that he stayed below the statistical targets in order to enrich himself or others? In theory, any player can guarantee that they will miss any statistical value by playing first and then being substituted later when they are close enough to these targets. The league has not officially accused Porter of such behavior. It could also have been two isolated coincidences related to Toronto’s injury woes at that point in a season that had already been abandoned.
But the fact is that the new obsession with sports betting could become a permanent problem for the NBA. JB Bickerstaff, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, spoke openly about threats that he and his family had received from gamblers. Players like All-Star Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers have spoken of harassment from fans who want to see their prop bets fulfilled. The National Basketball Association wants to avoid a situation like the one in the case of Tim Donaghy, a former referee who was once sentenced to 15 months in prison for game fixing, insider trading and conspiracy. The penalties for any participation in gambling are draconian for players and employees and can range from fines to suspensions and possible contract termination. The collective bargaining agreement stipulates that all players must attend team or league-conducted anti-gambling training each season. Failure to do so will result in a fine of $100,000.
Observers agree on one thing: If the NBA actually finds evidence that Porter either bet against himself or was at least in contact with someone who bet against him, he would be made a brutal example of in order to undermine his “integrity of the game”. Neither Porter, nor his team, nor the league have yet commented on the allegations. The only statement from the NBA is that “the matter is being reviewed.” The investigation has only just begun.