Report: NBA investigates Toronto Raptors player over betting irregularities 

Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is reportedly under investigation by the National Basketball Association (NBA) for multiple betting irregularities surrounding player prop bets involving Porter between January 26 and March 20, 2024.

In a report by ESPN, on March 26, the sports broadcaster said it had been informed by “multiple sources” of Porter’s alleged involvement and that a spokesperson for the NBA had directly told the channel that the league was “looking into” the matter. 

In a match between the Raptors and the LA Clippers on January 26, ESPN reported “increased betting interest on the under for Porter props”, which were set around 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. There was also an over/under for Porter’s three-pointers, which was 0.5.

In that game, Porter played for only four minutes before going off the court with an apparent “aggravation” to an existing eye injury he’d endured in the previous fixture against the Memphis Grizzlies four days prior.

Porter did not score against the Clippers but had three rebounds and one assist and didn’t attempt a single three-pointer, which meant the under had hit on all three props.

According to ESPN, DraftKings confirmed the following day that the under on Porter’s three-pointers was “the biggest money winner for bettors of any NBA player prop bets from games that evening.”

Then, on March 20, in a game against the Sacramento Kings, Porter played for just three minutes before leaving due to “illness”. Porter didn’t score and had two rebounds and did not return to the court.

Sportsbooks had his over/under at 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and, once again, DraftKings said in a media release that prop bets on Porter were the leading moneymaker in the NBA that night. 

ESPN’s sources disclosed that at least one other sportsbook had spotted irregular betting interest on Porter’s props in the aforementioned games, with one industry source telling the broadcaster that multiple betting accounts had attempted to place large sums, up to $10,000 and $20,000, on Porter unders in the game against the Clippers on January 26. 

The average betting limit on NBA player prop bets tend to land between $1,000 and $2,000, according to ESPN. 

The industry source said: “People were trying to do whatever they could to bet Jontay Porter props [against the Clippers].

“And then, just a few days ago, the same thing. We had a bunch of people trying to bet under for more.”

The Raptors’ coach, Darko Rajaković, said he became aware of the NBA’s investigation shortly before Monday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, a game in which Porter did not play due to injury. Porter also missed the Raptors’ game against the Washington Wizards last Saturday for the same reason.

Per the ESPN report, Rajaković commented: “I never doubt injuries. I never doubt honesty from players. Obviously, I’ve never had a situation like this before.”

The coach noted that that the investigation had not yet been discussed in the dressing room.

He added: “I don’t know their reaction. I just know nobody wants those kinds of situations to happen to anybody, to any team. We’ve just got to deal with it.”

League rules state that NBA players as well league employees are prohibited from betting on any NBA events, including prop bets. Violations of these rules could include fines, suspensions and possible termination of contracts, among other actions.