Michael Porter Jr. Issues Stark Warning: How Sports Gambling Could Destroy Players’ Careers Forever
The surge of sports gambling in the U.S. has shaken up professional athletes across the board, with NBA players catching the brunt of fans’ fury when stats don’t align with their bets. But the ripple effects run deeper than just irate tweets or forum rants. Take Michael Porter Jr.—he’s been through the wringer watching his brother Jontay face a lifetime NBA ban after being caught in a betting scandal that involved passing inside info and purposely dialing back his play. It’s a stark glimpse into the dark side of this booming industry. On the “One Night with Steiny” podcast, Porter didn’t just touch on his personal trials but painted a broader picture of how sports gambling is morphing into a pervasive menace within the league. And it’s not just the Porters getting caught in the crossfire—federal probes into Malik Beasley and whispers around Terry Rozier signal that the drama is far from over. Michael’s candid take—acknowledging the relentless pull of gambling culture and its colossal stakes—offers a rare, unfiltered perspective from inside the NBA bubble. As the league keeps cozying up to legal betting ventures, the tension between profit and integrity tightens—making the conversation Porter sparked more crucial than ever. LEARN MORE
Michael Porter Jr. on sports bettingMichael Porter Jr. talked about it on the “One Night with Steiny” podcast.Porter said in the interview that gambling and the idolization of money were not serious temptations for him (while also owning that he had other vices) and that he and every player faces those challenges.
“Obviously, my brother went through his situation, “Michael 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.”However, it can be much more than that. Michael Porter Jr. got to see that firsthand involving his younger brother Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA for life for betting on NBA games and “disclosing confidential information to sports bettors” about games where he intentionally “limited his participation” (took himself out early, allegedly due to injury), allowing them to win big on under prop bets.“Think about it if you can get all your homies rich by telling yo bet 10K on my under..this one game imma act like I got an injury and they all get a lil bag… some people come from nothing & they think like that.”— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 12, 2025
Currently, other gambling investigations are swirling around the NBA. Veteran guard Malik Beasley is at the center of a federal gambling probe where he allegedly bet on games and made prop bets. Also, Terry Rozier was tied to a gambling investigation, however, both the NBA and federal investigators say he played no role in any potential illegal activity.
(Via @onenightsteiny) pic.twitter.com/rxIaNoW19wWith both the league and its partners having direct ties to legal betting operations in the United States, the potential negative influence of gambling is going to be an ongoing challenge for the NBA and every other professional league. Porter, like many players, recognizes this, and he deserves credit for being willing to discuss it.
Professional athletes — including NBA players, but in every other sport as well — are feeling the impacts of the explosion of sports gambling in the United States. Most commonly that manifests as people — both on social media and in person — angrily lashing out at the players for not hitting points totals or other stats that would have won the angry fan their parlay, or a bet on a game.
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