It was back in March that troubling news surfaced surrounding then-Toronto Raptors big man Jontay Porter and a violation of the NBA gambling rules.
Several media reports indicated that Porter was under investigation by the NBA for alleged betting irregularities in prop bets that were made during Raptors games.
“Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is under investigation by the NBA following multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past several months,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported back in March. “At issue are prop bets involving Porter from games on Jan. 26 and March 20.”
The report pointed to a Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers in which there was increased betting on the under for Porter props. That game saw Porter play just four minutes before leaving with what was described as an eye injury.
After a near month-long investigation into the matter and with more troubling allegations coming out, Jontay Porter received a liftime ban from the NBA on April 17.
The scandal doesn’t come close to stopping there.
Related: Coban Porter, Brother of Denver Nuggets Star Michael Porter Jr., Sentenced to Prison for Fatal DUI
Federal Government Claims Jontay Porter Threw NBA Games
Per Kyle Schnitzer of the NY Post, a man by the name of Long Phi Pham was arrested on Monday while trying to board a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to Australia. He is accused in court of attempting to place prop bets with Porter.
What follows is eye-opening.
“Federal prosecutors allege that Porter had racked up large gambling debts in the beginning of the year to co-conspirators, and was encouraged to clear those debts by throwing games in order for certain bets to hit,” report on Jontay Porter.
The allegations include a note that Porter told Pham he was going to take himself out early in that aforementioned Jan. 26 game against the Clippers. Pham and others allegedly then bet $10,000 on the under as it relates to major Porter props for the game.
The NY Post report also includes allegations that Porter told a group of co-conspirators that was going to leave a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20 early due to being sick. Porter ultimately left the game after three minutes, netting the group over $1 million in profits, the feds say.
All of this comes amid a growing gambling scandal that is impacting the professional sports world in a big way. It was earlier on Tuesday that the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges after stealing $17 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts. Ippei Mizuhara faces up to 33 years after the guilty pleas.
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano also received a lifetime ban earlier on Tuesday for allegedly betting on Pittsburgh Pirates games when he was a member of the team last season. He became the first MLB player to receive such a ban in a century.
More about:NBA