The NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, has stated that the Toronto Raptors, Jontay Porter, who is under investigation for allegedly plotting to manipulate gambling results on in-game performance, might face a lifetime ban from the league.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, “I have an enormous range of discipline available to me. But it’s a cardinal sin, what he’s accused of in the NBA, and the ultimate, extreme option I have is to ban him from the game. That’s the level of authority I have here. Because there’s nothing more serious, I think, around this league when it comes to gambling: betting on our games. And that is a direct player involvement. And so, the investigation is ongoing, but the consequences could be very severe.”
The NBA Commissioner has also expressed that there could be a federal structure controlling sports wagering instead of the current framework so, that these types of anomalies could be well-handled.
However, he also acknowledged that the depths of the links that have arisen between the professional leagues, the media, and wagering organizations could change with potential modifications if it comes to the forefront.
Silver continued, “At the end of the day, there’s nothing more important than the integrity of the competition. And so, any issue raised around that is of great concern to me and to all commissioners, to all people who are safeguards, who are all people who are in a position and have a responsibility to safeguard the game.”
Adam Silver says what Jontay Porter is accused of is a “cardinal sin” and that punishment for it could go up to banishment from the league.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 10, 2024
“Again, this is a burgeoning industry in the United States. It’s been legal in other places in the world for decades. There’s lessons to be learned from the way that sports betting is monitored and regulated in other jurisdictions. And again, I think as these unfortunate examples come along, we may have to adjust our rules and our partner gaming companies and those companies that aren’t our partners may have to adjust their behavior as well.”
Porter was undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and began his career with the Memphis Grizzlies and played with the NBA G league teams, Memphis Hustle, Wisconsin Herd, and Motor City Cruise. He joined the Toronto Raptors in 2023.
