Jontay Porter Returns to Pro Basketball with USBL’s Seattle SuperHawks

SEATTLE (AP) — Jontay Porter, banned for life from the NBA in 2024 for violating the league’s gambling policies, made a triumphant return to professional basketball Saturday night, recording a triple-double in his debut with the Seattle SuperHawks.

The former star at Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School, started at power forward and delivered a dominant performance, scoring 21 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out 14 assists, along with three blocked shots and two steals, leading the SuperHawks to a 111-88 victory over the Lilac City Legends at Seattle Pacific University’s Royal Brougham Pavilion. Seattle Times

“I’m obviously super excited to play basketball again. I want to thank the Seattle SuperHawks and the USBL as a whole,” said Porter, the brother of current NBA player Michael Porter Jr. “The organization is top-notch. I understand they’re sticking their neck out for me and taking a risk with it, and I just want to be a good representative on and off the court.” Seattle Times

NBA Ban and Legal Proceedings

Porter was banned by the NBA after an investigation revealed he shared confidential information with sports bettors and placed wagers on NBA games, including bets against his own team, the Toronto Raptors. ESPN

In July 2024, Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court in Brooklyn, a felony carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have projected a sentencing range of just under three and a half years to a little over four years. He admitted to conspiring to exit games early so that others could profit from bets placed on his individual performance. USA Today

Prior to signing with the SuperHawks, Porter had a request to play professional basketball in Greece denied by a federal judge while awaiting sentencing. ESPN

USBL and Second Chances

The United States Basketball League (USBL), which originally operated from 1985 to 2008, announced its revival in November and began its first season in March. The league and the SuperHawks have expressed support for offering Porter a second chance.

“While Jontay fully acknowledges the consequences of his actions, he has demonstrated genuine remorse and a strong commitment to personal growth,” the USBL said in a statement. “The USBL and the SuperHawks are united in offering him the chance to continue his basketball journey, both as an athlete and as an example of how redemption can take shape through accountability and hard work.” Seattle Times

Porter’s Background and NBA Career

Before his NBA career was derailed, Porter played in 37 games over two seasons. He averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 games for the Toronto Raptors during the 2023–24 season, while also appearing in 11 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020–21. Wikipedia

Porter and his brother, Michael Porter Jr., led Nathan Hale High School to a perfect 29-0 season and the Class 3A state title in 2016-17 under coach Brandon Roy, a former University of Washington Huskies star. Seattle Times

At the time of his NBA violations, Porter was on a two-way contract, earning $410,000, significantly less than the $2 million+ earned by standard NBA contracts. USA Today

SuperHawks associate coach Gary Payton, a Basketball Hall of Famer, expressed confidence in Porter’s ability to move forward. “He made a mistake in his life, and now we’re past that,” Payton said. “We’re not going to believe about that anymore. This is a great talent here. A great basketball player, and we’re going to change him. I’ll mentor him a lot.” Seattle Times