Ex-Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter returned to the basketball court Saturday, nearly two years after his lifetime NBA ban for gambling violations.
Key Takeaways
- Porter had 21 points, 14 assists, 14 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks to lead the Seattle SuperHawks to a season-opening win.
- The USBL supports Porter’s second chance at professional basketball.
- Porter pleaded guilty in July 2024 to helping a group of bettors profit from his game manipulations.
Porter, who’s awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, scored 21 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out 14 assists for the Seattle SuperHawks in a United States Basketball League game. Porter also had two steals and three blocks to help his team beat the Lilac City Legends 111-68 to open the season.
“I’m obviously super excited to play basketball again. I want to thank the Seattle SuperHawks and the USBL as a whole,” Porter told The Associated Press. “The organization is top-notch. I understand they’re sticking their neck out for me and taking a risk with it, and I just want to be a good representative on and off the court.”
The USBL is a professional independent league that launched in 1985 but shut down in 2008. The league rebooted late last year and began play over the weekend.
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Backing Porter
The USBL told the AP that Porter has acknowledged the consequences of his actions. The league added that Porter has shown “genuine” remorse and displayed a “strong commitment” to growth.
“The USBL and the SuperHawks are united in offering him the chance to continue his basketball journey, both as an athlete and as an example of how redemption can take shape through accountability and hard work,” the league said.
Porter saw his attempt to join a pro league in Greece in 2024 denied by a federal judge. The disgraced former NBA player manipulated his playing time in two games to help a group of bettors cash in on his under player props in 2024.
Porter was also found to have bet on NBA games, including against his own team, but not while he was playing.
“He made a mistake in his life, and now we’re past that,” SuperHawks associate head coach Gary Payton said. “We’re not going to think about that anymore. This is a great talent here. A great basketball player, and we’re going to change him. I’ll mentor him a lot.”
Porter, the brother of Brooklyn Nets player Michael Porter Jr., was a two-way player on a G-League contract when he was busted for taking part in the gambling scheme, making $410,000. He was averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists during the season he was banned.
The case against
The league gave him a lifetime ban in April 2024 following an investigation, and he was indicted on federal charges after authorities discovered messages between Porter and the bettors.
Porter said he was manipulating his performance to pay off gambling debts. The group of bettors placed thousands of dollars in wagers at legal sportsbooks.
He pleaded guilty in July 2024 and has seen his sentencing pushed back multiple times. Porter, who faces up to 20 years in prison, was named in a federal incitement after an FBI investigation called “Operation Nothing But Net.” The group of bettors were part of other schemes as well. The probe also includes Terry Rozier, who allegedly told a friend and bettor that he would leave a game early in 2023.
Co-conspirator Timothy McCormack is the only member of the Porter scheme who has been sentenced, receiving a two-year jail term in January.
