A federal judge has denied a request by former Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter to be allowed to resume his basketball career in Greece while he is awaiting sentencing for his role in a betting scandal that got him banned from the league.
In a letter sent by his attorney, Jeff Jensen, on Tuesday, Porter asked that some conditions of his bond be modified so that he could re-gain his US passport, be allowed to travel to Europe, and to reside in Patras, Greece so that he could play for the Greek club Promitheas BC.
However, according to a court posting on Wednesday, that request has been denied by Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall.
In a letter sent to the judge, Jensen noted that federal prosecutors in Brooklyn had no opposition to the request.
‘The proposed modification would allow Mr. Porter to pursue a very fortunate – and quickly diminishing – opportunity to earn income through his primary skillset,’ Jensen wrote.
A request for Jontay Porter to play basketball in Greece has been denied by a judge
Porter, a former Toronto Raptors player, has been banned for life from the NBA for gambling
‘Mr. Porter, and more importantly his agent, believe such an opportunity is unlikely to arise again. … Since being banned from the NBA there have been no other opportunities available to continue his basketball career.
‘Mr. Porter has a limited window to earn an income through professional basketball during his prime earning years as a professional athlete.’
Porter, age 24, was banned for life from the NBA after admitting that he helped bettors by intentionally underperforming in games.
He pled guilty in June to a federal conspiracy crime. He is currently free on $250,000 bond while awaiting his sentencing which is set for December 18.
Prosecutors estimate he could be facing a range of up to over four years in prison.
Jensen says that Porter ‘was in over his head due to a gambling addiction’ and that he has undergone inpatient rehab for a gambling problem and is still in therapy.
The attorney adds that Porter’s therapy is being done virtually and wouldn’t be affected by a move to Greece.
Promitheas BC has also arranged in-person counseling for Porter, and plans called for his mother and mother-in-law to regularly be with the basketball star and his wife in Greece to provide additional family support. Porter’s wife is expecting a child, according to Jensen.
This past season with the Raptors, Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 games including five starts.
