On Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that if the claims are true, Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter could face a permanent ban. The league is currently investigating Porter for potential gambling issues. Suspicions were raised after multiple betting irregularities related to him surfaced in recent months.
Silver's NBA authority
Following the league's annual board of governors meetings at a midtown Manhattan hotel, Silver disclosed the extent of his authority. He mentioned an enormous range of discipline available to him, stressing that a transgression such as Jontay Porter is accused of is a cardinal sin in the NBA.
According to Silver, the ultimate, extreme option at his disposal is to permanently ban Porter from the game.
The doubts began with prop bets linked to Porter for games on January 26 and March 20, as first reported by ESPN on March 25. DraftKings Sportsbook stated that the prop bets made on those dates for Porter were the most profitable.
The NBA has dealt with betting scandals, like the infamous Tim Donaghy case in 2007. However, as sports betting has become legal in more US states in recent years, the issue has become more prominent in people's minds.
Silver expressed his preference for a unified federal system to oversee sports betting instead of the existing system, which varies by state. He believes this would make it easier to detect unusual activities, like the current issue with Jontay Porter.
He also acknowledged that the deepening ties between the NBA, other professional leagues, media, and gambling companies might prompt them to reconsider their future relationships.
Silver addresses team ownership dispute
In his news conference, Silver also touched on the current conflict between Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and the duo of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. They have been trying to buy the team from Taylor for over three years.
Last month, Taylor said he's no longer selling the team. Despite this, Lore and Rodriguez insist they will still proceed with their purchase. This has been a unique, multistep process over several years — starkly contrasting the usual swift closure of such deals.
Yet, Silver shared that both parties are currently in a mutual agreement to resolve the matter through mediation. He doesn't expect the NBA to step in.
Silver noted that although the purchasing procedure followed by Taylor, Lore, and Rodriguez adhered to league rules, such a multistep process may be discouraged to prevent similar issues.
Amidst the discussion of the deal that occurred in the early days of the pandemic, Silver highlighted the extraordinary circumstances that everyone in the community was grappling with.
He underlined that as the league evolves and encounters new situations, it's crucial to reevaluate the types of transactions that make sense. Advocating patience, Silver suggested reserving judgment on this particular deal until its outcome becomes clear.
When asked about the notable decrease in fouls and free throws in recent weeks, Silver's attention was drawn to Tuesday night's game. In this Milwaukee-hosted match, the Bucks triumphed over the Celtics, but interestingly, both teams only attempted two free throws throughout the game.
What's more, the Celtics didn't even make a single take. Those numbers have set new records in NBA history.
Earlier in the season, notable figures such as Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr voiced a certain advantage favoring offensive players. This majorly revolved around the issue of offensive players using themselves as projectiles or hunting for fouls. Recognizing this, the league placed a significant emphasis on addressing this concern.
Addressing the issue in greater depth, Silver shed more light on the matter by stating that they have made a conscious effort to be transparent with their teams. The Commissioner underlined that everyone has a front-row seat to the developments on the court and can form their thoughts regarding the calls made on the floor.
He candidly confessed that some tweaking was made during the game. However, he reassured that this readjustment was only limited to two fouls per team per game. Sadly, according to him, the outcome resulted in what they believe is a better game.
