Former Pistons guard Malik Beasley being investigated by NBA over gambling allegations

Current NBA free agent Malik Beasley is officially under investigation by the league for gambling allegations linked to a federal probe involving the 28-year-old guard earlier this offseason. The NBA confirmed an investigation into these allegations on Wednesday to ESPN.

The confirmation of the start of a league investigation into Beasley’s alleged gambling on NBA games continues what has been a long summer for last season’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up.

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ESPN reported on June 29 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York had begun investigating Beasley, with the NBA’s cooperation. The alleged infraction against Beasley comes from allegations of improper gambling on NBA games and prop bets. Beasley is accused of allegedly participating in these activities during the 2023-24 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

“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.”

Making matters worse, Beasley was sued by Hazan Sports Management Group in July for breach of contract, with the agency seeking $2.25 million in damages from the NBA sharpshooter. In August, Beasley was evicted from his high-rise apartment in downtown Detroit for failing to pay a total of $21,500 in rent. On Aug. 22, Beasley’s attorneys told ESPN he was no longer a target of the federal probe.

The Detroit Pistons were set to reward Beasley for a stellar 2024-25 campaign by offering him a three-year, $42 million contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, that was reportedly on the table before the initial allegations came out.

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According to ESPN, a source for at least one U.S. sportsbook suspected unusual betting interest in Beasley’s stats dating back to January 2024. A game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 31 of that year raised eyebrows when odds on Beasley grabbing fewer than 2.5 rebounds moved “significantly” before the game. Beasley ended that game with six boards and those unusual bets lost.

The NBA’s investigation is believed to be in its final stages, per ESPN.