Jontay Porter is back on a basketball roster—but not the one he once worked toward.
According to People, nearly two years after receiving a lifetime ban from the NBA, the former Toronto Raptors two-way player is set to return to professional play in the newly revived United States Basketball League (USBL).
Porter, now 26, will suit up for the Seattle Superhawks when the league tips off on March 7. The USBL, which had been inactive since 2008, is relaunching with a mix of former pros and overlooked talent looking for another shot.
For Porter, the opportunity arrives under very different circumstances than his earlier NBA path.
“I am just trying to do what I can to provide for my family,” Porter said, addressing his return to the court.
The move comes after one of the most high-profile gambling scandals involving an active NBA player in decades. In April 2024, the league announced Porter had been banned for life following an investigation into betting-related violations.
According to the NBA, Porter shared confidential information with bettors, placed wagers on games, and manipulated his own participation in certain matchups.
“A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation… and betting on NBA games,” the league said at the time.
The investigation centered in part on a March 20, 2024 game during his stint with the Raptors organization. Authorities later uncovered a broader scheme involving prop bets tied to Porter’s individual performance.
One wager—an $80,000 parlay that could have paid out $1.1 million—raised red flags and helped trigger deeper scrutiny.
Porter ultimately pleaded guilty to a federal charge tied to the case and is currently awaiting sentencing. As part of his pre-sentencing conditions, he was required to surrender his passport, which blocked a potential move overseas.
A prior attempt to join the Greek club Promitheas Patras was denied by a federal judge.
Before the scandal, Porter’s career had followed a winding but promising track. A standout at Missouri, where he earned SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors, he entered the NBA through a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020.
Injuries slowed his early momentum, but he later resurfaced in the G League before landing with Toronto during the 2023–24 season.