Banned NBA player texted gamblers during games about player status, court documents say
Sixth person arrested in betting scheme that saw Jontay Porter banned for life from the NBA league.
Porter, who is I am facing criminal chargeswas banned from the NBA after it was discovered that he had placed bets on the NBA and was involved in a scheme in which conspirators profited from information he provided.
Court documents revealed this week that Porter sent messages to those involved in the scheme, with one message saying that betting on his “below” propositions would lead to “big numbers.”
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Jontay Porter #34 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 9, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
“No blocks, no steals. I’ll play the first 2-3 minutes off the bench, then when they take me out, tell them my eye is killing me again,” Porter said in a message Shane Hennenthe last person arrested, on January 26 before his Toronto Raptors game.
Hennen was arrested at the Las Vegas airport on Sunday before he was scheduled to board a one-way flight to Colombia.
Earlier last January, Porter also texted, “I’m back in the locker room getting a look. I think I’m going to play a lot more. I’m not starting the second half. But if it’s garbage time, I’m going to shoot a million shots.”
Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces more than 20 years in prison, although prosecutors believe he will be sentenced to about four. He will be sentenced on May 20.
In court in July, Porter said he agreed to retire early from the games to free himself of large gambling debts so he and co-conspirators could win bets on his performance.
Jontay Porter, #34 of the Toronto Raptors, battles for a rebound with Lindy Waters III, #43, of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season game between the Toronto Raptors and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Toronto on March 22, 2024. (Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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“I know what I did was wrong, illegal and I am deeply sorry,” he said.
Porter was banned for life on April 17 after an NBA investigation revealed he had provided confidential information to bookies and bet on games against league rules. The NBA prohibits players from betting on the league or any of its assets.
The NBA said it discovered that from January to March of this year, while with the Raptors or their G League team, the Raptors 905, Porter placed “at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s betting account.”
Porter’s attorney, Jeff Jensen, said in June that Porter was “in over his head with his gambling addiction” but was receiving treatment and cooperating with police.
Toronto Raptors’ Jontay Porter #34 drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 13, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. (Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
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One of Porter’s brothers, Coban, began serving a six-year sentence in April for a fatal impaired driving accident. The other brother, Michael, is the support of s Denver Nuggets.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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