In a shocking turn of events, the career of Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is under threat as the NBA launches an investigation into "multiple instances of betting irregularities" involving the player. ESPN reported on Monday night that suspicious bets were placed on Porter's props in at least two games in January and March.

Porter, a 24-year-old role player for the Raptors, has faced scrutiny after the unders on all of his props hit in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 26. Despite having props set for 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 three-pointers made, Porter played just four minutes before leaving the game due to an eye injury. He failed to score and only managed three rebounds and one assist.

The following day, DraftKings reported that bets on Porter's threes being under were the biggest money winners for NBA prop bettors that night. A similar pattern emerged in a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, where Porter played only three minutes and took one shot before exiting due to illness. Again, all of his props hit the under.

Interestingly, DraftKings revealed that Porter's prop bets were the top moneymakers among NBA bets on both occasions. Despite the inherent limitations of prop bets, someone allegedly attempted to place bets as high as $20,000 on Porter's props for the Clippers game in January.

Jontay Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., has had a challenging career, including back-to-back ACL tears in college at Missouri. He joined the Raptors on a two-way contract, earning $415,000. Porter had played in 26 NBA games this season and also had a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies.

For the time being, Porter has been absent from the Raptors' recent games due to personal reasons. The team's coach, Darko Rajaković, expressed surprise upon learning about the situation and maintained faith in the honesty and integrity of his players.

This investigation comes at a turbulent time for U.S. sports, with a spate of gambling scandals making headlines. In particular, MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani's bank account was involved in millions of dollars' worth of transfers to an illegal bookmaker. It is worth noting that the NBA itself has been actively promoting gambling, incorporating direct gambling options into its League Pass streaming service.

The outcome of the investigation will determine the potential ramifications for Jontay Porter's career, with his involvement in betting irregularities casting a cloud over his future in the NBA.