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Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. expressed support for his brother, Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, on Wednesday night amid an NBA investigation into betting irregularities involving Jontay Porter prop bets.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Michael Porter Jr. downplayed the likelihood of his brother being involved with the betting scandal in any way.
“I’ve known my brother my whole life,” he said. “I know what type of dude he is and I know he’s excited to play basketball and I highly doubt he would do anything to put that in jeopardy.”
Rachel Strand @MileHighRachel
Michael Porter Jr. on the NBA investigation involving his brother, Jontay Porter: <a href=”https://t.co/PxOmoMjtNe”>pic.twitter.com/PxOmoMjtNe</a>
Per ESPN’s David Purdum, Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA launched an investigation this week into the circumstances surrounding increased action on Jontay Porter prop bets for the Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers and the March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings.
For both games, there was “increased betting interest” on the under props, and the unders hit each time.
Jontay Porter left the Jan. 26 game after playing just four minutes due to aggravation of an eye injury he suffered four days earlier agains the Memphis Grizzlies.
He also left the March 20 game after playing just three minutes due to an illness.
DraftKings Sportsbook announced that prop bets involving Porter were the “No. 1 moneymaker” in terms of NBA bets on the night of March 20.
Michael Porter Jr., who was the No. 14 overall pick by the Nuggets in the 2018 NBA draft and won a championship with the team last season, gave his thoughts on legalized betting and how it has impacted players:
“Yeah, especially the last few years you hear people in the crowd saying what they need you to score tonight or what they don’t want you to score. Every night you’re disappointing someone. You’re disappointing people if you score too much because they may have bet on the under, and you’re disappointing people if you didn’t score enough.
“So, it’s a part of the game now. I think that it’s obviously a dangerous habit. It’s a dangerous vice for people. You know, the love of money is the root of all evil. So, I think that even though it is a thing, we as players just have to accept that. We get paid a lot of money to play this game and I know these people, these fans, they want to make some money, as well.
“It’s definitely something that has kind of taken over the sporting world—I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
Rachel Strand @MileHighRachel
“We as players just have to accept that.”<br><br>Porter Jr. was asked if it is hard to not get involved when there is so much advertising regarding sports betting and gambling. <a href=”https://t.co/OPhgfuFhVB”>pic.twitter.com/OPhgfuFhVB</a>
While Michael Porter Jr. is a starter for the Nuggets and is playing under a five-year, $172.55 million contract, Jontay is more of a journeyman.
The 24-year-old played in 11 games for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2020-21 season, and after spending time in the G League over the next few seasons, he finally got another NBA opportunity this year with the Raptors on a two-way contract.
In 26 games this season, including five starts, he is averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 13.8 minutes per contest.
With the investigation into Jontay ongoing, he has sat out the Raptors’ past three games due to personal reasons.