SuperHawks Sign Lifetime-Banned Jontay Porter Ahead of USBL Debut
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Seattle — The Seattle SuperHawks have added former NBA center Jontay Porter to their roster for the upcoming United States Basketball League season, the expansion club announced Wednesday.
Porter, 27, has been barred for life from the NBA since 2024 after the league determined he bet on games and conspired with gamblers to manipulate his on-court performance. Despite the ban, USBL rules permit his participation. The SuperHawks open their inaugural season on March 7.
In July 2024 Porter pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he worked with bettors to profit from prop wagers in two Toronto Raptors games during the 2023-24 campaign. The felony carries a potential 20-year sentence; prosecutors have indicated they will recommend three to four years when Porter is sentenced.
The NBA’s investigation found Porter placed bets on 13 games he did not play in during 2024, winning approximately $22,000. His case sparked a broader probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which has since charged dozens of people, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, in related gambling schemes.
Porter’s previous attempt to resume his career overseas was denied when a federal judge rejected his 2024 request to join a club in Greece. The former Missouri standout appeared in 37 NBA games over two seasons before his lifetime suspension.
Source: ESPN.com
