Nuggets star says brother Jontay Porter wouldn’t put career at risk

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It was only a matter of time until star Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. was asked about the rumours surrounding his younger brother, Raptors forward Jontay Porter.

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Porter Jr. told reporters following a Denver loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night that he doubted his younger brother would do anything to put his professional career at risk.

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The NBA said Monday it has opened an investigation into Jontay Porter amid gambling allegations surrounding the under being bet significantly on prop bets involving Jontay Porter in two specific games.

ESPN first reported the probe, which it said surrounded Porter’s performance in games Jan. 26 and March 20. In both games, Porter played sporadically before exiting, citing injury or illness. Porter was well under the prop bets in those games.

Michael Porter Jr. told reporters Wednesday “Jontay loves the game of basketball” and added: “I’ve known my brother my whole life. 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.”

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Jontay Porter was signed to a two-way contract for $415,000 US by Toronto in December. He has averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games, including five starts. The 6-foot-10 Porter also played in 11 games for Memphis in the 2020-21 season.

He hasn’t addressed the situation and has been away from the Raptors for a bit now.

Michael Porter Jr. said sports betting is a “dangerous habit” and also discussed, like others in the NBA have recently, how the proliferation of sports betting has led to bettors making comments to players and coaches about their bets, sometimes quite nasty ones at that.

“It’s a part of the game now. I think that it’s obviously a dangerous habit. It’s a dangerous vice for people,” Porter Jr. told reporters. “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.”

The Nuggets won the NBA title last season.

— With files from the Associated Press

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