NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the gambling investigation into Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter could result in a lifetime ban for the player if he is found guilty of the ‘cardinal sin’ » of sport: “The consequences could be very serious”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver left little gray area when discussing gambling accusations against Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter.

If the 24-year-old NBA player is found to be involved in a conspiracy to influence NBA betting results, Porter would face a lifetime ban from the league for what Silver described as the “cardinal sin ” Game.

“There is nothing more serious, I think, in this league when it comes to gaming and betting on our games and that involves direct player involvement,” Silver told reporters on Wednesday, as quoted by Mark Stein. “The investigation is therefore ongoing but the consequences could be very serious.”

Silver’s statement aligns with other sports leagues, which use the threat of a lifetime ban to deter players from engaging in betting in their respective sports.

The most famous example comes from 1989, when Bart Giamatti, then commissioner of the MLB, banned Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose for life after it was discovered that he had bet on his team’s games.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (R) warned Porter’s punishment could be severe

Although Rose denied gambling at the time, in 2004 he admitted to betting on Cincinnati games while managing the team, but insisted he never bet against the Reds.

His critics argued that this was irrelevant, because he could potentially rest his best relief pitchers for games he did not play, leaving Cincinnati less competitive on those nights.

It was in 1991 that the Hall of Fame board made Rose ineligible for life, and recently current commissioner Rob Manfred pledged to uphold that ban.

“Pete Rose violated what is sort of the first rule of baseball, and the consequences are clear in the rule, and we have continued to play by our own rules,” Manfred said in 2023.

Porter is currently under investigation by the NBA for suspicious gambling activity surrounding two recent performances, a league spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com.

The Toronto Raptors forward was scratched early from the Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers and the March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings due to an eye injury and illness. As a result, Porter fell well short of prop betting lines on those nights, resulting in big wins on several bets that are now suspect.

“People were trying to do everything they could to bet on Jontay Porter props (against the Clippers),” an industry source told ESPN of the suspicious bets. “And then, just a few days ago, the same thing. We had a group of people trying to bet less to get more.

Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti (pictured) banned Pete Rose from playing baseball for life in 1989.

Former Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Rose has been banned for life for gambling.

Porter, who was ruled out of Sunday’s game for personal reasons, has not been suspended by the NBA nor has he been charged with any crime. But as several publications resurfaced on social networks show, the 23-year-old young man apparently seems to have a long-standing interest in sports betting.

“Shout spazzin for the EZ (sic) parliament,” read a message from an X account, ostensibly belonging to Porter, after successfully predicting a three-team college basketball parliament in March 2022.

While this does not represent a potential violation (Porter was not on the NBA roster at the time and the games in question were collegiate), the social media post is one of many that raises questions as part of the league’s investigation into his gambling history.

Younger brother of Denver Nuggets star and NBA champion Michael Porter Jr., Jontay is on the fringes of the NBA.

He currently has a two-way contract with the Raptors, allowing him to be moved between the NBA club and its G League affiliate in Mississauga, Ontario. And unlike his older brother, who earned nearly $80 million in his career, Jontay earned less than $3 million during his brief career.

But even though he doesn’t have his brother’s wealth, the younger Porter has a keen interest in the stock market, which apparently prompted him to create an X account with the handle @TayTrades11.

Porter’s main X account referred interested parties to his other account: @TayTrades11

An account apparently belonging to Porter (@TayTrades11) suggested he start a betting service

Porter’s agent did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request to confirm the account, but in May 2022, the player referenced the @TayTrades11 page using his primary X handle, @JontayPorter.

“My real trading account is @TayTrades11,” he wrote in May 2022.

As first reported by DailyHive.com, a person using that handle was recognized for sharing successful sports betting tips from other users.

“For anyone who likes to make a bet or two on sports,” reads a 2022 article from @NomadTrader8. “Did any of you see this play yesterday?”

The post included a screenshot of various betting lines for the Memphis Grizzlies – a team that had released Porter only 10 months earlier.

Porter’s @TayTrades11 account was included at the end of @NomadTrader8’s post, which the player then “liked” online.

Account holder @NomadTrader8 did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

And that’s not the only exchange between @TayTrades11 and @NomadTrader8.

A day later, @NomadTrader8 referenced @TayTrades11 in another post.

“@TayTrades11 cold stone of the day last night – Suns/Over (easy$),” the post began. ‘Thank you @TayTrades11! I would have liked to have a sports betting service…’

The message ended with a “thinking” emoji.

The @TayTrades11 account not only “liked” the @NomadTrader8 account, but also several other sports betting posts, most of which involved college basketball or the NFL.

Porter was quick to take credit when others successfully bet on an NCAA parlay

Porter’s @TayTrades11 account was included in this post, which the player then “liked” online.

The ongoing investigation could represent the NBA’s biggest sports betting scandal since the Tim Donaghy saga, when the longtime official ultimately pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated. Donaghy ultimately served a year in prison.

Specifically, two of Porter’s recent games are under the league’s microscope.

After the March 20 game, DraftKings reported that bets on Porter — bets on whether or not he would meet specific statistical benchmarks — were the most lucrative in the NBA for that night.

Additionally, ESPN reports that at least one other sports betting site discovered irregular activity on Jan. 26, including several five-figure bets on the “under” — bets that paid off handsomely after Porter left prematurely in due to an eye injury.

Suspicious bets ranged from $10,000 to $20,000, according to ESPN.