In a shocking turn of events, Toronto Raptors two-way player Jontay Porter finds himself embroiled in an NBA gambling scandal. The accessibility and visibility of sports betting are being called into question, as more details emerge about Porter's alleged involvement in prop bets related to his individual stats.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the league initiated an investigation into Porter's suspiciously large cash-outs from prop bets on games played on January 26 and March 20. The bets included predictions on Porter's points, rebounds, assists, and made 3-pointers.

On January 26, Porter played just four minutes before leaving the game due to an eye injury. He did not score, but recorded three rebounds and one assist, failing to meet the under on all the prop bets. The next day, DraftKings Sportsbook revealed that the under on Porter's 3-pointers was the most lucrative outcome for bettors that evening.

The situation repeated on March 20 when Porter played a mere three minutes, citing illness as the reason for his early exit. He attempted one shot, did not score, and grabbed two rebounds, falling short of the over/unders set for his points and rebounds.

Digging deeper into Porter's gambling activity, Adam Laskaris of Daily Hive discovered a Twitter account, @TayTrades11, where Porter discussed gambling lines and cryptocurrency. Porter even called out a fake trading account, asserting his ownership of the genuine @TayTrades11 handle.

Furthermore, Porter operated a discord server named "The Financial Cloud," where subscribers could reportedly pay for financial advice on bets, cryptocurrency, and other investments. Alarming screenshots of conversations on the server show individuals thanking Porter for their winnings.

While Porter's alleged misconduct involving player props is troubling, it highlights a larger issue. The incident exposes the inevitable consequences of the growing partnership between sports leagues and gambling companies, coupled with the widespread accessibility of sports betting.

Across various sports, athletes are finding themselves entangled in gambling-related controversies. Major League Baseball is currently grappling with the Shohei Ohtani situation, and the NFL has already handed out gambling suspensions. As sports betting becomes readily available and promoted, it is not surprising that highly competitive athletes are drawn to participate.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's previous stance, that sports betting should be regulated and monitored, may not be sufficient in addressing growing concerns. The exposure of scandals like Porter's does not necessarily instill confidence in the integrity of the games.

Perhaps it is time for sports leagues to reconsider their approach and prioritize disinfecting the potential risks associated with gambling involvement. While transparency has its merits, focusing on safeguarding the reputation and fairness of the sport should be of paramount importance.

As Porter's case unfolds, along with the inevitable scandals that will surface in the coming weeks and months, it becomes evident that all sports leagues must acknowledge and address the potential pitfalls of their association with gambling entities. The responsibility to maintain the purity of the game lies in their hands.