Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is under investigation by federal authorities on accusations of gambling related to NBA games, according to reports.
The accusations against Beasley stem from the 2023-24 NBA season, when he played 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks, including a career-high 77 starts. At least one U.S. sportsbook noticed unusual betting activity on Beasley’s statistics, specifically during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 31, 2024, [ESPN](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587346&xs=1&xcust=zmentz|&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnba%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F45608949%2Fsources-pistons-malik-beasley-subject-federal-gambling-probe) reports.
Prior to that game, the odds of Beasley recording fewer than 2.5 rebounds shortened from +120 to around -250 due to a surge of bets being placed on the under. However, Beasley finished the game with six rebounds, deeming all bets on his under 2.5 rebounds a loss.
Beasley is being investigated by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York.
“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.”
The Pistons said they are aware of the investigation into Beasley but deferred comment to the NBA. League spokesman Mike Bass said the NBA is “cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation.”
Beasley, a nine-year NBA veteran, was in talks with the Pistons to re-sign with the team on a three-year, $42 million contract, but those negotiations are on pause, per ESPN. The 28-year-old sharpshooter averaged 16.3 points while shooting 41.6% from 3-point range in a career-high 82 games for the Pistons last season.
For his career, Beasley is averaging 11.7 points on 39.1% shooting on threes for the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Bucks and Pistons.
In April 2024, the NBA [banned Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587346&xs=1&xcust=zmentz|&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fnews%2Fjontay-porter-banned-from-nba) after an investigation found he limited his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes.
“The NBA goes to great lengths to work with authorities and find these kinds of betting oddities, especially when it comes to prop wager on individual player performances,” said David Campbell, sports manager at Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. “Beasley is probably the highest-profile NBA name to be involved in a case like this in recent memory.”