The resurgence of the player cursed by the NBA: he went broke betting on Russian table tennis and almost took his own life

Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has opened up about his severe gambling addiction, which led to a lifetime NBA ban and thoughts of suicide. In an interview, Porter revealed he wagered over $50 million on FanDuel—frequently betting on Russian table tennis—and ended up heavily in debt to illicit creditors. In July 2024, he pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges after manipulating his playing time during games to hit prop bets.

Porter revealed that the crisis drove him to mortgage his house, steal from family members, and almost take his own life before considering his unborn child. Now in recovery, he stated that the lifetime ban and legal repercussions likely saved his life as he currently awaits federal sentencing.