The NBA has made it clear to voters for the NBA Awards that betting on the event is strictly forbidden.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has become synonymous with integrity during his tenure, particularly as he guided the league into the sports betting arena. Silver has made it a priority to protect the organization from any potential corruption tied to betting.
In a move to safeguard the credibility of the NBA Awards, Silver has reinforced that the association will strictly prohibit any betting by voters on the event. Despite many commercial sportsbooks and offshore sites offering wagers on award outcomes, Silver is committed to ensuring a clean process.
For the 2023-24 season, the NBA Awards included categories like Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Defensive Player of the Year. These honors are determined by a panel of 99 voters, all of whom are now explicitly barred from placing any bets.
The news was broken not by Silver himself but by Jared Greenberg of NBA on TNT, who announced it on X, creating significant buzz on the platform.
Commentators expressed surprise that there hadn’t previously been a clear prohibition preventing the panel from betting on the markets they influence. However, it’s important to note that this decision is a proactive measure by the NBA rather than a response to any particular incident.
This rule follows closely on the heels of a major scandal involving Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who was permanently banned from the league and its events and is awaiting sentencing later this year. Porter has pled guilty but maintains his innocence, insisting he never intentionally influenced game outcomes to benefit from proposition bets.
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