Former Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Malik Beasley appeared to have turned a corner in his NBA career over the past two seasons. In his lone year in Milwaukee, the sharpshooter hit a then career-high 41.3% of his three point attempts, and his 224 made three-pointers that season was the second-most in franchise history.
After playing for the Bucks on a one-year $2 million contract, Beasley signed another one-year deal, this one worth $6 million, with the Detroit Pistons.
And he was even better.
In 2024-25, Beasley made a career-best 41.6% of this three pointers and was one of just three NBA players to make over 300 three-point shots, finishing second in the league behind Anthony Edwards, who had 320 (Beasley had 319).
This run of success had the former Bucks guard poised to sign a three-year contract worth more than $40 million this offseason. But that offer is now off the table due to Beasley being investigated by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Former Milwaukee Bucks Guard Malik Beasley Is Under Federal Investigation
Milwaukee Bucks, Malik Beasley
Jan 13, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley (5) puts up a shot against Golden State Warriors in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday, the day before NBA free agency began, it was reported that Beasley is the subject of a federal investigation for allegedly gambling on NBA games and placing prop bets.
As a result of this development, Beasley has seen the Pistons rescind their contract offer and look elsewhere for a new shooting guard. Teams around the league, too, have put their interest in him on the backburner as they wait to see how the situation plays out.
What is more, the alleged bets were placed during the 2023-24 NBA season, the year Beasley spent with the Bucks. Suddenly, it became clear why Milwaukee was so willing to move on from him despite his good year with the team.
They could not trust his off-court behavior.
And, as a new report reveals, the situation is worse than originally reported.
Former Milwaukee Bucks Guard Malik Beasley Is Facing Several Lawsuits
Milwaukee Bucks, Malik Beasley
Feb 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley (5) celebrates during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout the course of his NBA career, Beasley has made $59,948,525. But while that is more money than most people will ever make in several lifetimes, the former Bucks guard has apparently squandered it all.
Per a report by Robert Snell of the Detroit News, Beasley has multiple financial crises that he is facing, and the current federal investigation into his alleged gambling habits is just the tip of the ice berg.
According to Snell, Beasley is or has been sued by a Detroit landlord for failure to pay rent, Hazan Sports Management Group, South River Capital (a firm that specializes in lending money to professional athletes), and a celebrity barber shop called Cairo Cuts, which operates in Milwaukee.
Interestingly, the Detroit real estate holder that sued Beasley (twice) is part of a company that is owned by Dan Gilbert, who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And if all of this wasn’t condemning enough, last season, Beasley had his Pistons paychecks garnished by a dentist, whom he failed to pay over $34,000.
As of this writing, he has not paid the amount awarded to the dentist by a judge.
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