Source: Alika Jenner/Getty
Online gambling may be all the rage among sports fans, but professional athletes themselves are discovering that there are implications for placing bets on games, especially in their own profession.
Such is the case with NBA player Jontay Porter, who faces the very real possibility of being permanently banned from the league as he is under investigation for “multiple instances of betting irregularities in recent months.” According ESPNAdam Silver has boldly stated that if the Toronto Raptors forward is found to have committed the “cardinal sin” of “playing” under or up to the over/under set around his personal performances.
After several instances in which Porter's appearances (or lack thereof) in games between Jan. 26 and March 20 led to some big-money nights for betters, the NBA launched an investigation. And Silver isn't shy about laying down the law for Porter if it comes to that.
Per ESPN:
“I have a huge range of discipline at my disposal,” Silver said at a midtown Manhattan hotel after the league's annual board of governors meetings. “But it's a serious sin, what he's been charged with in the NBA, and the absolute, extreme option I have is to remove him from the game.
“That's the level of authority I have here. Because there is nothing more serious, I think, around this league when it comes to gambling: betting on our games. And this is a direct involvement of the players. And so, the investigation continues, but the consequences can be very serious.”
One has to wonder if Porter actually played up or under the bets placed on his performances, but if it turns out he did, it could be a wrap for the man's young NBA career. That being said, he felt it was only a matter of time before a professional gamer was embroiled in such a scandal. Adam Silver won't hesitate to make a prime example of someone who isn't exactly the cornerstone of an NBA franchise.
More than ESPN:
“At the end of the day, there is nothing more important than the integrity of the competition,” Silver said. “And so any issue that comes up around that is of great concern to me and all the commissioners, all the people who are safe, who are all people who are in a position and have a responsibility to protect the game. Again, this is a growing industry in the United States. It has been legal in other parts of the world for decades. There are lessons to be learned from how sports betting is monitored and regulated in other jurisdictions.
It should be interesting to see how this game ends. You can bet it's going to be ugly if Silver's worst fear is confirmed.
What do you think? Should Jontay Porter be permanently banned if found to have committed the 'deadliest sin' in sports? Let us know in the comments section below.
