Malik Beasley Under Investigation for Alleged Gambling Violations
Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is the subject of a federal gambling probe that was launched by the US District Attorney's Office.
ESPN's Shams Charania first reported that Beasley is being investigated on allegations of gambling using NBA games for prop betting during the 2023-24 season, when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
According to at least one U.S. sportsbook, unusually heavy betting was discovered on Beasley's statistics back in January 2024.
Steve Haney, Beasley’s lawyer, said that his client has not been formally charged with any crime.
"An investigation is not a charge," Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, told ESPN. "Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything."
In a statement, the Pistons said they are aware of an investigation into Beasley and are deferring further comment to the NBA.
We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors' investigation," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
Before news broke of the impending investigation, Beasley was in negotiations with the Pistons to sign a lucrative contract extension on a three-year, $42 million contract to return to Detroit.
This is not the first time that a current NBA player has been the subject of gambling accusations. Last year, the NBA banned former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter following a league investigation that discovered that he had shared inside information with sports bettors who placed wagers on games.
In January, it was announced that Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was under federal investigation for unusual betting patterns relating to him in a March 2023 game when he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
Rozier has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been disciplined by the NBA.
Last season, Beasley had one of his best seasons as a pro, averaging 16.3 points while appearing in all 82 games last season, his first with the Pistons. He made 319 3-pointers, the most in a season in Pistons’ franchise history.
