Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter owned and operated a VIP account at FanDuel in Colorado that wagered millions of dollars in total from 2021 to 2023, multiple sources with direct knowledge told the Action Network.
One of those sources said FanDuel did not accept any wagers on the NBA or college basketball from Porter, whose brother, Michael Porter Jr., is a pivotal member of the Denver Nuggets team that won the NBA championship in 2023.
Porter allegedly placed over 1,000 wagers at the sportsbook. “He was firing all of the time,” a source said.
On Wednesday, the NBA banned Jontay Porter for life. In a statement, the NBA said it found that Porter had disclosed "confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes."
The league also found that while Porter was in the G League with the Raptors 905, he bet $54,094 on NBA games using an associate's betting account, including three Toronto Raptors games.
“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver added in the NBA's statement. "Which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment."
Porter was a member of three different NBA G League teams during these alleged wagering activities. Porter's FanDuel account activity ceased a few weeks before he signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, a source said.
ESPN reported in March that Jontay was under investigation by the NBA due to irregular betting activity on his prop bets. During two games earlier this season, wagers on Porter to underperform were the most profitable bets of the day, according to data from DraftKings. Porter played but left early in both games with reported ailments. Each time, anyone who bet the under on Porter's props profited.
A request for comment made to Jontay Porter's agent was not returned.
Last Thursday, Colorado gaming regulators requested sportsbooks in the state to report any accounts that Jontay may have operated.
“We are requesting that you review all patron accounts thoroughly to identify if Jontay Porter has ever had an account with your sportsbook,” the letter, sent to all Colorado operators, read. “If so, please review Mr. Porter’s account for wagering activities on NBA-affiliated games. Note that all wagering activities by Mr. Porter on NBA-affiliated games shall be reported to the Division immediately.”
The deadline for operators to submit Porter’s activity was the end of business on Monday.
The NBA bars wagers of any kind by its players or employees on the NBA or its affiliated properties, including summer league, the G League or the WNBA. Wagering on other sports is not explicitly prohibited. A spokesperson for the NBA declined to comment.
Jontay Porter is currently on leave from the Raptors pending the investigation.
On Jan. 26 — in a game against the Clippers — bettors profited heavily on Porter's unders, with some wagers in the five-figures.
Porter's over/unders that day at DraftKings were 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 3-pointers, giving bettors the option to wager on him to attain more or less of each of those figures.
DraftKings reported that the under on Porter's 3-pointers was the most profitable wager that day. Porter attempted zero 3-pointers and finished the game with zero points, three rebounds and one assist.
Porter left that game after playing just four minutes, citing a re-aggravation of an eye injury he suffered four days prior.
Sportsbook house rules mean wagers are only valid if the player plays in the game. If Porter had not played, under bettors would not have cashed their bets and wagers would have been refunded with no profit or loss.
On March 20, in a game against the Kings, Porter also left the game early, this time due to a reported illness. As in January, the under on Porter's props were the most profitable bets of the day, according to data from DraftKings. The sportsbook posted his points total at 7.5 and rebound total of 5.5. He finished the game with zero points and two rebounds.
As a VIP, Porter was afforded the typical perks provided to a client who bets a substantial amount, including promotional activity and tickets to sporting events, sources told the Action Network.
A FanDuel spokesperson declined comment, citing the pending NBA investigation.
During this time, Porter operated a Discord account that provided stocks, crypto and, occasionally, gambling advice for a monthly subscription of $49.99.
"The NBPA will make sure Jontay has access to the resources he needs during this time, in light of the NBA’s decision," the NBA's players association said in a statement on Wednesday. "All players, including Jontay, should be afforded appropriate due process and opportunity to answer to any charges brought against them."
Jontay is Michael Porter Jr.'s younger brother by a year. Jontay Porter had been a five-star recruit out of high school, joining his older brother at Missouri. While MPJ became a lottery pick and a key member of the 2023 Nuggets championship team — signing a five-year, $179 million deal in the process — Jontay Porter has struggled to establish himself in professional basketball.
Jontay tore his ACL and MCL during a scrimmage in Oct. 2018 while still at Missouri. Then, he tore his ACL again during rehab in early 2019. Despite the injuries, he opted to put his name in the ring for the 2019 NBA Draft, where he went undrafted.
He then bounced around the G League before signing a two-way contract with the Raptors in December, which paid him a prorated salary of over $400,000. Now, amid the NBA's gambling investigation, his career is on pause — indefinitely.
Sports Handle’s Matt Rybaltowski contributed to this report.
