Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley, one of the NBA’s most sought-after free agents this offseason, is under federal investigation for allegedly placing bets on NBA games and prop wagers during the 2023–24 season, according to _ESPN_.
The U.S. District Attorney’s Office has reportedly launched a probe into suspicious gambling activity involving Beasley while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. A prominent sportsbook flagged unusual betting patterns tied to Beasley’s player props starting in early 2024. Notably, in a January 31 game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers, the odds on Beasley recording under 2.5 rebounds shifted dramatically, from +120 to -250, as large wagers came in on the under. Beasley ultimately finished that game with six rebounds.
_“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 NBA acknowledged the matter in a statement, saying it is _“cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation.”_
The investigation has reportedly stalled negotiations between Beasley and the Pistons, who were closing in on a three-year, $42 million deal before the allegations surfaced.
Beasley, 28, entered the league as the 19th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, selected by the Denver Nuggets. Over his career, he has suited up for the Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and most recently, the Pistons on a one-year deal.
This isn’t Beasley’s first legal issue. In 2021, he was suspended 12 games without pay following a felony gun charge tied to a 2020 incident. He served 120 days in jail and was placed on three years of probation with mandated anger management and a ban on drugs and alcohol during that period.
Beasley is not the only NBA player to face scrutiny in the wake of heightened sports betting regulations. Earlier this year, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was linked to a wider federal gambling probe. Additionally, former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA for life in 2024 after admitting to participating in a gambling conspiracy. He later pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges.
As the investigation into Beasley continues, his free agency—and potentially his NBA future—hangs in the balance.