NBA Bans Raptors' Jontay Porter for Life After Gambling Investigation
The NBA is banning Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter from the league for life, it announced in a Wednesday morning release. The punishment is the first gambling-related ban of a player from the NBA in nearly six decades.
"There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter's blatant violation of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment," commissioner Adam Silver said.
Per the NBA, a league investigation found that Porter "(disclosed) confidential information to sports bettors, (limited) his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and (bet) on NBA games."
The league noted in its statement that its investigation remained open and that the league was cooperating with federal prosecutors.
This is the second lifetime ban Silver has handed down in his tenure as commissioner., In 2014 he handed down a lifelong suspension to former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling after racist remarks he made became public.
Porter ends his NBA career with an average of 3.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game across two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.
