Nearly two years following his lifetime ban from the NBA due to a breach of the league’s gambling regulations, former Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jontay Porter has secured a position with a new professional basketball league. The Seattle SuperHawks, part of the United States Basketball League (USBL), announced that they have signed Porter to their roster for the upcoming 2026 season, marking his return to professional play after his infamous exit from the NBA.
Porter’s signing has generated significant discussion, particularly in light of the USBL’s commitment to maintaining fair competition standards. The league emphasizes that the outcomes of its games must be determined solely through the abilities of the players, coaches, and teams on the court. “Every rule we establish, every policy we implement, and every decision we make is guided by a commitment to fair competition,” the USBL states, reflecting its intent to ensure trust among players, coaches, and fans.
The SuperHawks are one of eight teams participating in the revival of the USBL, which will kick off its season on March 6. Originally in operation from 1985 to 2008, the league has a history of fostering talent, including notable NBA figures such as Manute Bol and Spud Webb.
Porter’s past is intertwined with an FBI investigation concerning illegal sports betting that surfaced within the NBA the previous fall. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Allegations arose that Porter was coerced by two defendants in the federal case into partaking in a scheme that involved sharing insider information about NBA games with bettors.
Suspicious betting activities linked to Porter in 2024 raised alarms, notably when the NBA found that he disclosed his health status to a bettor prior to a March 20 game. This led to a significant wager of $80,000 tied to a parlay bet that could have yielded $1.1 million. However, Porter exited that game shortly after it began due to illness, resulting in the bet being frozen without payout.
Earlier that season, a report from DraftKings highlighted that the under on Porter’s made 3-pointers had emerged as the top winner among NBA props. The NBA’s investigation also revealed that Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s account, totaling $54,094, with a net gain of $21,965. Although these bets did not encompass games in which he played, he did bet against his own team, the Raptors, as part of a multi-game parlay.
Porter’s situation represents an unusual case in the NBA’s enforcement of its gambling policies. The league strictly prohibits any personnel associated with the NBA from engaging in betting on games and mandates annual anti-gambling training for players. Furthermore, it employs data scientists dedicated to monitoring gambling-related issues to uphold the integrity of the sport.
This announcement may signal a potential turning point for Porter, offering him a chance to revitalize his basketball career while the USBL strives to differentiate itself through its dedication to fair competition. The league’s revival comes at a time when many players, like Porter, seek new beginnings and opportunities for redemption in the competitive world of professional sports.