Raptors' Jontay Porter Being Investigated in NBA Prop Betting Probe

Another major North American sports league is facing an investigation into one of its players allegedly placing illegal wagers, with the Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter under the microscope. 

The NBA this week announced that it's started a probe into the Toronto Raptors backup center Jontay Porter for allegedly placing prop bets on his own performance. 

It's alleged that Porter possibly bet the Under on his personal performance sports betting lines. ESPN reported that Porter was under investigation “following multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past several months.”

The Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates Ontario sports betting, said it was “aware of prop betting irregularities linked to Toronto Raptors’ Jontay Porter,” and the NBA’s interest in the matter.”

The probe

All of the major sports leagues in North America prohibit players, coaches, and officials from wagering on any activity surrounding games. Any findings of such activity could lead to suspension, fines, or expulsion from leagues.

ESPN reported on Monday that the probe into Porter was tied to his performance in games on Jan. 26 and March 20. Porter ended up with minimal minutes in both contests, playing four minutes and 24 seconds against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 26, and two minutes and 43 seconds against Sacramento on March 20. He left both games, citing injury and illness.

Porter did not come close to hitting the prop betting points, rebounds, and 3-pointer lines from oddsmakers in those games.

Lines for Porter when facing the Clippers were 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, according to ESPN. He finished with zero points, three rebounds, and one assist. The line was for 0.5 3-pointers in that game, and Porter attempted zero 3-point shots.

For the Kings game, the lines were 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Porter finished with no points and two rebounds.

Increased interest in Porter's bets

Sportsbooks experienced an increased amount of prop bets placed on Toronto’s backup center. Some included five-figure wagers, according to ESPN. 

“People were trying to do whatever they could to bet Jontay Porter props” for that game, one industry source told ESPN. “And then, just a few days ago (for the Kings game), the same thing. We had a bunch of people trying to bet Under for more.”

Prop bets are notoriously tough to track for the legal sports betting industry, and no conclusions have been made surrounding the Porter incident.

Bad timing

The marriage of sports and sports betting has shown a bit of a dark side most recently. It was last week when Shohei Ohtani, possibly the biggest sports star on the planet, was embroiled in a sports betting scandal.

Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff recently talked about feeling threatened by bettors. That came the same week that Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton said he felt like a "prop" on the floor, and that Rudy Gobert found himself in trouble for making a money sign toward an NBA referee. 

"I’ll take the fine, but I think (betting) is hurting our game," Gobert said. "I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way.”