Former Mizzou Standout Jontay Porter's Betting Accusations Could Ban Him From NBA if True

NBA commissioner Adam Silver believes former Missouri Tigers and current Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter's gambling accusations are a "cardinal sin."

Jan 7, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter (11) takes a / John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

On March 25, former Missouri basketball standout and current Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was put under investigation by the NBA for prop betting irregularities surrounding his name. These irregularities stemmed from games on Jan. 26 and March 20.

On Wednesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that what Porter is accused of is a “cardinal sin” and that punishment for it could go up to banishment from the league, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

"There is nothing more serious, I think, around this league when it comes to gambling and betting on our games and that is a direct player involvement," Silver said, per NBA correspondent Marc Stein. "So the investigation is ongoing but the consequences could be very severe."

On the Jan. 26 game, there was increased betting interest on the under for Porter props. He ended up playing just four minutes before leaving the game due to a "re-aggravation of an eye injury" from a recent game and all of the unders hit. The following morning, DraftKings Sportsbook said that the under on Porter's 3-pointers was the biggest winner of any NBA player prop from that night.

On the March 20 matchup, Porter played just three minutes before leaving the game due to what the Raptors called an illness. All of the under props hit and DraftKings reported that Porter bets were the most lucrative of the night yet again.

Porter has played in 26 games this season and is averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 14 minutes per game. Nevertheless, he hasn't played since the investigation opened up on March 25.

Former Missouri and current Denver Nuggets standout forward Michael Porter Jr. defended his brother, Jontay, a couple of days after the investigation began.

"I've known my brother my whole life. I know what type of dude he is and I know he's excited to play basketball, and I highly doubt he would do anything to put that in jeopardy," Michael Porter Jr. said.

At Mizzou, Jontay Porter earned a spot on the 2017-18 All-SEC Freshman Team after averaging 9.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals in 24.5 minutes per game. He was also named the Co-Sixth Man of the Year that season. However, he was sidelined during his sophomore campaign after suffering a season-ending knee injury during a preseason closed scrimmage.