Michael Porter Jr. warns NBA players about dangers of sports betting, stat manipulation

Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is warning fellow NBA players about the dangers of manipulating stats to help friends win sports bets.

Speaking on the “One Night with Steiny” podcast, Porter addressed the growing controversy over prop bet manipulation in the NBA and other pro sports. His younger brother, Jontay Porter, was banned for life from the league earlier this year for his involvement in such a scheme.

“Obviously, my brother went through his situation,” Porter said. “Malik Beasley’s going through a situation right now. Terry Rozier was in some hot water. But the whole sports gambling entity, it’s bad and it’s only gonna get worse.”

Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban followed multiple games in which he played limited minutes before leaving due to injury or illness, seemingly to influence betting markets. The NBA and MLB have both faced recent scandals tied to player involvement in sports wagering.

“Think about it if you can get all your homies rich by telling yo bet $10K on my under,” Porter said, “…this one game imma act like I got an injury and they all get a lil bag … some people come from nothing and they think like that.”

Porter was acquired by Brooklyn in a trade with the Nuggets at the start of NBA free agency earlier this offseason.