As the NBA continues investigating Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for sports betting, their final decision could wind up being the stiffest in their power to enforce.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said that Porter is accused of a “cardinal sin” in basketball. He believes that the punishment could wind up being “banishment from the league” if the allegations are true.
“Adam Silver says what Jontay Porter is accused of is a “cardinal sin” and that punishment for it could go up to banishment from the league,” Bontemps wrote.
The NBA has only banned two people in the last quarter century: Former Clippers owner Donald Sterling and former No. 3 overall pick O.J. Mayo. But it’s been over 50 years since the league had to permanently ban someone for anything related to gambling.
“There is nothing more serious, I think, around this league when it comes to gambling and betting on our games and that is a direct player involvement. So the investigation is ongoing but the consequences could be very severe,” Silver said.
The situation with Porter has led to a wider conversation beginning on whether the advent of sports betting – and nearly all American sports leagues getting involved with it – will lead to more issues like this and what needs to be done to mitigate future risks.
As it relates to Porter though, unless something miraculous happens, it’s starting to appear that his days in the NBA, let alone on the Raptors, are numbered.