A professional basketball team in the USBL is making a bet on Jontay Porter.
The Seattle SuperHawks, part of the newly rebooted United States Basketball League, announced on Wednesday that the team has signed the controversial former Toronto Raptors forward.
Porter was not only banned for life from the NBA in 2024 over a sports gambling scandal, but he is also awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a related federal felony charge.
The SuperHawks made no mention of the controversy surrounding Porter in their announcement on Instagram, calling the signing a “new chapter” in Porter’s journey.
“The SuperHawks family and the USBL are excited to welcome Jontay to the 2026 roster,” the team wrote. “As a former NBA professional, Jontay brings significant talent to the team. A 6’10” Power Forward, Jontay is marking a new chapter in his professional basketball journey!”
In July 2024, Porter pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud — a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. However, the former NBA role player is expected to get between three and four years when he is sentenced.
What did Porter do to get banned?
While a member of the Raptors during the 2023-24 season, Porter was accused of manipulating his performance and working with gamblers to win prop bets in two games.
An NBA investigation later found that the 6-foot-11 forward personally bet on 13 NBA games in 2024 that he didn’t play in — a violation of league rules — and won $22,000 US.
Porter previously had petitioned a judge to be allowed to play for a professional team in Greece, but was denied.
What is the USBL?
The original USBL was founded in 1985 and operated for more than 30 years as a professional league before ceasing operation in 2008.
The new version of the loop was formed in November 2025, with eight teams based on the West Coast of North America. The league’s regular season is slated to start on Friday, March 6, and run until the end of May.
Porter was a bit player during his time in the NBA. He played 26 games for the Raptors during the 2023-24 season, including five starts.
He averaged just 13.8 minutes per game, posting averages of 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per appearance.