The upstart United States Basketball League wasn’t shocked when the Seattle Superhawks’ signing of Jontay Porter—banned for life from the NBA—drew attention.
However, the level of buzz, including critical stories and negativity on social media, exceeded the league’s expectations. Numerous outlets wrote about the Superhawks bringing Porter aboard, from ESPN, the New York Times, and Reuters to TMZ, People, and Fox News.
“We figured there may be some coverage, but in all likelihood we thought it would be more local than national,” USBL CEO David Otto tells Front Office Sports. “We were a little surprised by the scope, and also some of the negativity.”
Porter, the 26-year-old brother of Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., was banned from the NBA in April 2024 after an investigation determined he bet on league games and manipulated his performance for gamblers while a member of the Raptors. He’s awaiting sentencing as part of a federal gambling probe after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2024, and faces up to 20 years in prison.
The USBL is well aware of Porter’s situation, but Otto says the league believes in second chances.
“He’s a young guy who’s looking to redeem himself and rebuild his life,” he tells FOS. “That is what the USBL is all about.”
Porter’s Debut
The 6-foot-11 Porter will start for the Superhawks on Saturday against the Lilac City Legends, head coach Robert Pack tells FOS—Pack played 13 years in the NBA in the 1990s and early 2000s, including for the Nuggets and Mavericks. He’ll be joined on the sidelines by Supersonics legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton, who is associate head coach for the Superhawks.
The game is being held at the Royal Brougham Pavilion at Seattle Pacific University, a small, private Christian liberal arts school. As of Friday afternoon, tickets were still available at $15 for adults and $8 for students.
Pack acknowledged the controversy surrounding Porter may have an influence, but says Porter has “shown great leadership in practices,” and expects the team to rise above the noise.
“He’s a very talented player,” Pack says. “Jontay has been working hard in practice every day. He has a great basketball IQ, has the ability to play both inside and outside, and is a very good passer.”
Porter’s History and Earnings
Porter went undrafted in 2019 after playing only one season at the University of Missouri due to multiple ACL tears. Across two NBA seasons, he was a fringe player—in 37 total games for the Grizzlies and Raptors, he averaged just under 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in about 11 minutes per game.
Porter’s career earnings were just under $2.7 million. The details of his Superhawks contract were not disclosed, although a person familiar with the matter tells FOS that annual salaries typically range from “mid to high five figures,” meaning he could earn close to $100,000 per season.
If Porter gets sentenced during the season and can no longer play, he may forfeit what’s left on his deal. Otto says USBL contracts generally have provisions in player contracts “which essentially state that to the extent you cannot play, then you will not be compensated.”
The League
The USBL is not technically new. It originally launched in 1985 as a developmental league, and well-known players like Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues, Manute Bol, and Anthony Mason all had stints.
That version of the league stopped operating in 2008. This version came about after a split among teams that were all part of a different league last year, The Basketball League. A number of teams chose not to join this year’s USBL and instead launched their own league, reportedly due to the Superhawks ownership group “pushing a new business model including cryptocurrency, with which they were uncomfortable.”
Otto, a longtime securities lawyer, says the USBL is pioneering a tokenization model that effectively turns minority stakes in teams into blockchain-based assets.
“The value proposition is compelling, and it’s a model that can be deployed in any pro sports franchise,” he says.
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