NBA free agent Malik Beasley is currently the subject of an investigation by the U.S. District Attorney's office concerning gambling allegations that are reportedly linked to league games. This information was disclosed by a person familiar with the investigation, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
The NBA has acknowledged the investigation, with spokesperson Mike Bass stating, "We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation." This announcement was made public on Sunday, indicating the league's commitment to transparency in light of the circumstances surrounding Beasley.
ESPN was the first outlet to report on the ongoing investigation. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, emphasized the importance of due process in the ESPN report, asserting, "An investigation is not a charge." Haney reinforced that Beasley is entitled to the presumption of innocence, like any other individual under the U.S. Constitution, and noted that as of now, Beasley has not faced any formal charges.
The investigation into Beasley mirrors past incidents within the league, notably a case involving Toronto's Jontay Porter, who faced severe repercussions after being linked to a prop bet investigation and subsequently pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Such cases highlight the NBA's increasing scrutiny over gambling-related activities of its players.
Furthermore, this past season, The Wall Street Journal reported that Terry Rozier, formerly of the Charlotte Hornets and currently with the Miami Heat, was under investigation for unusual betting patterns related to a game he participated in during March 2023. Like Beasley and Porter, Rozier has not been charged with any crime nor has he faced any disciplinary actions from the NBA.
The probe into Beasley began following alerts from licensed sports betting operators and organizations monitoring legal betting markets, which observed suspicious gambling activities tied to player performance. Porter's situation specifically involved him sharing information about his health status which prompted a bettor to place an $80,000 wager on his performance, which would have netted substantial earnings if successful.
In the context of his on-court performance, Malik Beasley signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Detroit Pistons the previous year. His impressive contributions included a franchise-record 319 three-pointers made in a single season, helping the Pistons reach the playoffs for the first time since 2019. This achievement also ended the team’s NBA-record streak of 15 consecutive playoff losses in the first round against the New York Knicks.
Over the last season, Beasley averaged 16.3 points per game and has a career scoring average of 11.7 points over his tenure with various teams, which includes the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons. During the 2020-21 season, he achieved a personal best with an average of 19.6 points per game while playing for the Timberwolves.
Originally drafted by the Nuggets as the 19th overall pick in 2016, Beasley is also recognized for his collegiate play at Florida State. The ongoing investigations may impact his free agency prospects, particularly as the Pistons were reportedly keen on re-signing him to a multi-year contract. However, the current uncertainty surrounding the investigation raises questions about the future of those negotiations.
