Sports · Basketball · 1 hr ago
Jontay Porter says he faced a suicide crisis after NBA gambling ban
Jontay Porter says he nearly took his own life after the NBA banned him for life in 2024.
The league said he shared confidential information with bettors, limited his participation in games for betting purposes and wagered on NBA games.
The investigation uncovered bets on 13 games between January and March 2024.
Porter told The New Yorker that he held a gun to his head during a period of isolation and despair.
He says he has not gambled since before his arrest, but estimates he has bet at least half a billion dollars over his life.
He continues regular therapy and says the struggle is ongoing.
After a Greek club's attempt to sign him was denied, Porter signed with the Seattle Super Hawks for the 2026 United States Basketball League season.
Jontay Porter says he held a gun to his head during a severe mental health crisis after the NBA banned him for life over gambling.
He told The New Yorker that the public backlash and isolation contributed to his crisis.
Porter said thoughts of his son, born in 2024, helped keep him from ending his life.
He remains in regular therapy and says he has not gambled since before his arrest.
Porter recently signed with the Seattle Super Hawks for the 2026 United States Basketball League season.
- Who
- Jontay Porter, a former NBA player.
- What
- He said he held a gun to his head during a mental health crisis after receiving a lifetime NBA ban for gambling.
- When
- The ban came in 2024. He described the crisis in an interview cited on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- He said public backlash and isolation contributed to the crisis after the gambling scandal.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Porter entered the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Porter moved to the Toronto Raptors.
The NBA issued Porter a lifetime ban for gambling.
Eurohoops reported Porter’s account of his mental health crisis and said he had recently signed with the Seattle Super Hawks.
- NBA ban
- Lifetime ban issued in 2024
- Gambling investigation
- Wagers on 13 NBA games between January and March
- Age
- 26
- Therapy
- Porter remains in regular therapy
- New team
- Seattle Super Hawks, for the 2026 United States Basketball League season
What people are saying
There was one incident where I don’t even think my wife knows this, but I held it to my head and I was just crying: ‘I can’t do this anymore,’
I can’t leave this earth without meeting him,
This war on my soul is going to continue,