Former Raptor Jontay Porter, who was banned from NBA for gambling, to play in independent league

SEATTLE (AP) — Former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter,who was banned for life from the NBA in 2024after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose, is planning to play professional basketball again.

Porter has signed with the Seattle Superhawks, a member of the independent United States Basketball League. The USBL was originally formed in 1985, ceased operations in 2008 and announced its return in November.

Porter, who was denied a request to be allowed to resume his basketball career in Greece in 2024 while awaiting sentencing for his role in thebetting scandalthat got him banned from the league, will have the chance to play again when the Superhawks begin their season at home on Saturday. In a statement shared with The Associated Press, the USBL said it believes in second chances, and that the Superhawks are confident in Porter's sincerity.

"While Jontay fully acknowledges the consequences of his actions, he has demonstrated genuine remorse and a strong commitment to personal growth," the statement said. "The USBL and the Superhawks are united in offering him the chance to continue his basketball journey, both as an athlete and as an example of how redemption can take shape through accountability and hard work."

Porter pleaded guilty in July 2024 in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison. He acknowledged that he agreed to withdraw early from games so that co-conspirators could win bets on his performance.

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Porter was on a two-way contract at the time of his violations, which meant he could bounce back and forth between the Raptors and their G League affiliate. His salary was $410,000, and a standard NBA contract would have been more than $2 million. Inpleading guilty, Porter acknowledged wrongdoing, saying he did it "to get out from under large gambling debts."

"I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry," Porter said at the time.

Prosecutors estimated his sentence at a range from just under three and a half years in prison to a little over four years.

Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games in the 2023-24 season for Toronto. He also played in 11 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 season.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

byLiam Oneel

in

March 02, 2026

Former Raptor Jontay Porter, who was banned from NBA for gambling, to play in independent league

SEATTLE (AP) — Former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter,who was banned for life from the NBA in 2024after a league pr...

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Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel 'Magic City Monday' promo

An NBA player from an opposing team has called on theAtlanta Hawksto cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves around celebrating a well-known local gentleman's club.

San Antonio SpurscenterLukeKornetasked the Hawks to reconsider their "Magic City Monday" plans for a March 16 game against theOrlando Magicina letter posted to Mediumon Monday, March 2.Atlanta's ownership group and front office recently toutedthe one-night collaboration as an ode to an "iconic cultural institution," citing Magic City's role and impact in Atlanta's Black communities and hip-hop culture in the announcement.

But Kornet wrote that "the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, 'Atlanta's premier strip club.' "

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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"The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world," Kornet continued. "We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.

"Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society."

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Magic City Kitchen is also slated to serve two versions of its "world famous" lemon pepper wings – Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ –at the March 16 game. The flavor is named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner, Lou Williams. Rapper T.I. is scheduled to perform at halftime and limited edition Magic City merchandise will be available to purchase at the game.

Magic City celebrated 40 years witha five-part STARZ docuseries, 'Magic City: An American Fantasy,'that was produced by Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri. Magic City founder Michael "Mr. Magic" Barney and T.I. are scheduled to record a live podcast from inside Atlanta's State Farm Arena before the game.

Kornet, 30, hopes the Hawks and NBA officials listen to him instead.

"I'd like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold theAtlanta Hawksto a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting," Kornet wrote. "I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks' decision. We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision."

Luke Kornet stats

Kornet is averaging a career-best 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first season with the Spurs. This is the sixth team he's played for in his nine NBA seasons, with his previous four years spent on the Boston Celtics.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Luke Kornet asks Atlanta Hawks to stop Magic City strip club promotion

byLiam Oneel

in

March 02, 2026

Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel 'Magic City Monday' promo

An NBA player from an opposing team has called on theAtlanta Hawksto cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves ...

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Jim Carrey's rep and César Awards exec address bizarre impersonator conspiracy theory

It might not seem necessary to state thatJim Carreyattended the César Awards after the actor was seen and photographed… attending the César Awards.

But a representative for theAce Venturastar and an executive for the French film awards are both shutting down bizarre rumors suggesting that Carrey's recent appearance at the event to accept an honorary award was faked.

"Jim Carrey attended the César Awards, where he accepted his Honorary César Award," his rep Marleah Leslie confirmed Monday in a statement toEntertainment Weekly.

Carrey, 64, gave a heartfelt speech while accepting his lifetime achievement award at the star-studded Paris event on Thursday. Over the weekend, however, conspiracy theories began to swirl online speculating that it wasn't Carrey who attended the event, but rather an impersonator.

Drag artist Alexis Stone added further fuel to the fire by suggesting that he was the one who impersonated Carrey, sharing snapshots ofEternal Sunshinestar at the ceremony as well a collection of prosthetics and makeupon Instagramon Sunday. Stone has previously impersonated celebs likeLana Del Rey,Donatella Versace, andAdele.

But Gregory Caulier, the general delegate of the César Awards, has also debunked the rumors about Carrey's attendance.

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"Jim Carrey's visit has been planned since this summer,"Caulier toldVariety. "From the outset, he was extremely touched by the Academy's invitation. Eight months of ongoing, constructive discussions. He worked on his speech in French for months, asking me about the exact pronunciation of certain words."

Caulier explained that Carrey was joined at the event by his partner, daughter, grandson, and 12 of his closest friends and family members. "His longtime publicist accompanied him," he continued. "His old friend Michel Gondry, who has made a film and two series with him, was there, and they were delighted to see each other again."

Caulier concluded, "For me, it's a non-issue. I just remember his generosity, his kindness, his benevolence, his elegance."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.Carrey was announced as the event's Honorary César Award winner last October. During his speech Thursday, Carrey revealed that his family roots trace back to France, where his "great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather, Marc-François Carré" was born in Saint Malo "about 300 years ago," before eventually emigrating to Canada.

Carrey also gave a shout-out to his father, Percy Joseph Carrey, calling him "the funniest man I have ever known" and crediting him with teaching him "the value of love, generosity and laughter."

Prior to the César Awards, Carrey was most recently seen at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November. He last appeared on screen in 2024'sSonic the Hedgehog 3, playing the mad scientists Gerald Robotnik and Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byLiam Oneel

in

March 02, 2026

Jim Carrey's rep and César Awards exec address bizarre impersonator conspiracy theory

It might not seem necessary to state thatJim Carreyattended the César Awards after the actor was seen and photographed… ...

Read More