Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter has been issued a lifetime ban by the NBA for betting on his own sport, with his lawyer attributing his actions to a gambling addiction. Porter's lawyer, Jeff Jensen, released a statement acknowledging his client's struggles and stating that Porter is currently receiving treatment and cooperating with authorities, according to the Associated Press.

In relation to the ongoing scandal, a fourth person has been arrested. Ammar Awawdeh, aged 32, turned himself in on Friday. Awawdeh is accused of pressuring an NBA player, identified as "Player 1," to intentionally underperform in games, guaranteeing payouts for those who had bet on Porter's performance. Awawdeh allegedly used an encrypted messaging app to communicate with "Player 1" and provided instructions for leaving games early. Awawdeh has been arraigned and released on $100,000 bond, with home detention and an ankle monitor.

This development follows the arrest of Long Phi Pham and two other co-defendants earlier this week. Pham was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while attempting to board a one-way flight to Australia. Upon his arrest, authorities discovered $12,000 in cash, two cashier's checks totaling $80,000, multiple betting slips, and three cell phones in his possession.

The NBA investigation revealed that Porter purposely limited his participation in the Raptors' game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, with the intention of influencing the outcome of bets placed on his performance. Porter claimed to feel ill after playing only three minutes in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. Furthermore, prior to the game, Porter shared confidential health information with an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor. Another individual connected to Porter placed a bet on Porter underperforming, as part of an $80,000 parlay with an online sportsbook. All three parlay bets resulted in losses.

From January through March 2024, Porter made at least 13 bets on NBA games using someone else's betting account, ranging from $15 to $22,000. The total amount wagered by Porter was $54,094, with a total payout of $76,059, resulting in winnings of $21,965. Notably, none of the bets involved games in which Porter participated, but he did bet against the Raptors in three different parlay bets.

As of now, Porter has not been named in the court complaint nor has he been charged. The defendants are facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and have yet to enter their pleas.

The NBA's firm stance against gambling-related misconduct and their commitment to maintain the integrity of the sport remains clear with Porter's lifetime ban. While the player's lawyer acknowledges a gambling addiction as a contributing factor to Porter's actions, the consequences of these actions will likely have a lasting impact on his career and reputation.