Image Source: NBA.com
[Saba Sports News] Amidst a gambling scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani in Major League Baseball, the NBA appears to be facing a similar issue. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is currently sidelined as he undergoes an NBA investigation regarding alleged irregularities with prop bets.
Wojnarowski reports that games in question include those where Porter played against the LA Clippers on Jan. 26 and the Sacramento Kings on March 20. There was reportedly heightened betting activity on Porter’s under props during these games. In the game against the Clippers, Porter played just four minutes before leaving due to an eye injury. Against the Kings, he played only three minutes before exiting due to illness.
Porter, 24, who is the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., played college basketball at Missouri. After going undrafted in 2020, he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies but was later waived. He then spent time in the NBA G League before securing a two-way contract with the Raptors in December. Throughout this season, he has averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game over 26 appearances for Toronto.
Porter last played for the Raptors on March 22 but has since been sidelined due to personal reasons. However, it has now been revealed that his absence is related to the ongoing NBA investigation.