Jan 5, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) reacts to a turnover in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Orlando Magic at Denver Nuggets
DENVER — Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. is sticking by his younger brother, Jontay.
The association was turned upside down on Monday after the Raptors pulled Jontay from the lineup against the Brooklyn Nets for ‘betting irregularities’. The league later released a statement saying that they were looking into several situations related to Porter’s prop bets, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
“I know what you guys know,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “I know Jontay loves the game of basketball. He’s been really excited to play with the Raptors. So, I know just as much as you guys know at this point. I have known my brother my whole life. I know what type of dude he is. I know he’s excited to play basketball and highly doubt that he would do anything to put that in jeopardy.”
The NBA is currently investigating Jontay for suspicious betting patterns involving his player props, where he removed himself from two games.
The first game took place on Jan. 26, when the Raptors took on the Los Angeles Clippers. Porter played just four minutes, and then left due to an eye injury. He finished with no points, three rebounds, one assist and did not attempt a 3-pointer. His under was the biggest money winner for bettors on all NBA props that day through DraftKings Sportsbook, according to ESPN.
Then on March 20, when the Raptors played the Phoenix Suns, Porter played in just three minutes before he was ruled out due to an illness. He finished with no points, two rebounds and one missed shot. The under once again hit on all of those categories, and his prop bets were again the top moneymaker from the night on NBA games through DraftKings Sportsbook, per the report.
Jontay, a fringe NBA talent has bounced around the league for the past four years. But he got an opportunity to play with the Raptors in December when he signed a ten-day contract, which he was able to parlay (no pun intended) into a season-long deal.
Michael, a star role player for the Denver Nuggets, is currently on a five-year deal worth $180 million, while Jontay makes near the league minimum, just $415,000.
