Adam Silver Threatens Lifetime Ban for Raptors Player For Gambling

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has finally broken his silence on the gambling charges surrounding Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, and he is clearly not taking the issue lightly. Silver calls gambling for an NBA player "the cardinal sin", and warns that a lifetime ban for Porter is certainly on the table.

Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter could face a league ban pending NBA's probe into his involvement in betting, announced Commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday.

“It’s a cardinal sin of what he’s accused of in the NBA,” Silver said.

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— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 10, 2024

Porter, who is the brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., has been the subject of an investigation by the league due to sports betting irregularities surrounding him that have surfaced over the last several months.

Adam Silver on sports betting in the NBA and the Jontay Porter situation:

"There is nothing more serious around this league than gambling and betting on these games with direct player involvement. The consequences could be very severe."
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) April 10, 2024

Silver said today in a news conference that sports betting is a serious issue for him.

"To answer your question about the consequences, I have an enormous range of discipline available to me. But it's a cardinal sin what he's accused of in the NBA. The ultimate, extreme option I have, is to ban him from the game. That's the level of authority I have here because there's nothing more serious around this league when it comes to gambling and betting on our games with direct player involvement. The investigation is ongoing, but the consequences could be very severe."

The investigation is centering around prop bets made over a two-month period from late January to late March, involving Porter. There were suspicious amounts of action placed on his prop bets, and a significant amount of money was paid out.

As for his more famous brother, NBA champion Michael Porter Jr., until more comes of this, he's standing by his brother.

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

Jontay Porter has been away from the Raptors for over a week for what's being called "personal reasons".

In 26 games, this season, playing about 14 minutes a night Porter is averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 33% shooting from the three-point line.