The GIST: The Toronto Raptors’ 11-game losing streak isn’t the only issue impacting their average season — fringe player Jontay Porter is currently under investigation for involvement in sports gambling.
The details: The NBA is looking into suspicious prop bets related to Porter. Prop bets involve betting on specific aspects of a game, such as a player’s performance.
On January 26th and March 20th, a significant number of bettors placed bets on the “under” for Porter’s props, predicting he would not reach his low average stat lines for points, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers. Porter only played a few minutes in those games before leaving due to illness or injury, failing to meet the stats specified in the prop bets, resulting in big wins for those who bet the “under.”
However, the high stakes of some bets (exceeding the usual limit of $2K) raised suspicion among bookkeepers.
Looking at the bigger picture: The NBA is now investigating whether Porter intentionally underperformed in those games. This investigation comes amidst increased scrutiny on professional athlete involvement in sports betting, with at least one NBA head coach expressing concerns about the negative aspects of sports gambling.
Prior to Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković was informed of the NBA’s investigation, leading to Porter’s removal from the lineup. It remains uncertain if he will return for tonight’s game against the NY Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET.
