The NBA is investigating Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter over sports betting irregularities involving his prop bets from two games this season, ESPN reported Monday.

The investigation is centered on Porter props from games on Jan. 26 and March 20, according to the report, both games which Porter left early due to health concerns. The implication is he potentially left those games to ensure the under on his prop bets would win. It’s the type of potential nightmare scenario the NBA has likely been dreading since sports betting was legalized and the league started working with sportsbooks.

It could only be worse if this was a star player.

According to ESPN, Porter’s props for the Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers were set at around 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 3-pointers. Against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, they were around 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He played just four minutes the first game before leaving with what the Raptors called an aggravation of a prior eye injury. He played three minutes in the latter game before leaving with what was called an illness. The under hit on all of his props from those two games, and DraftKings reported Porter props as the biggest moneymakers from each night.

If that sounds sketchy, it should. Nobody is going out of their way to bet on a player who averages fewer than 14 minutes in all of 26 games played this season. It’s a wonder sportsbooks even offered props on Porter, who averages just 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

There’s still a lot we don’t know, so it’s too soon to say if or how Porter was involved in any type of scheme, but the evidence is damning. One industry source told ESPN multiple betting accounts tried to bet upward of $20,000 on Porter unders in the game against the Clippers — the type of bet you only expect someone to make if they have inside information.

The NBA can’t let that fly. If the investigation finds Porter was involved in some way, the punishment has to be heavy. He shouldn’t be allowed to play in the NBA ever again.

A situation like the one developing w/Jontay Porter was predictable. And if allegations are true, expect the NBA to make an example of him. Termination of contract, lifetime ban. Adam Silver will need to send a message: Nothing is more important than the integrity of the game.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) March 25, 2024

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again, upholding the integrity of the game is the most important thing to sports leagues when it comes to betting. If players think they can get away with manipulating betting outcomes, what’s stopping the next bench-warmer (or referee) from trying something similar.

That betting has been legalized and brought out from the shadows allowed this type of activity to be monitored and flagged. Now, it’s on the NBA to use that information to punish whoever is at fault and set a precedent of what can be expected when people toe the line, not only to set an example to players, but to also nurture the trust of fans who want to believe games aren’t being rigged for betting purposes. Without that trust, the NBA as we know it is done.