NBA opens investigation into gambling allegations against Malik Beasley
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New York — The NBA confirmed Wednesday that it is conducting an internal investigation into free-agent guard Malik Beasley over allegations of improper wagering on league games and proposition bets during the 2023-24 season, when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
People familiar with the probe said the inquiry focuses on bets allegedly placed on NBA contests and player props. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, told ESPN his client is “fully cooperating” with league officials.
The league review runs parallel to a federal investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. ESPN reported on June 29 that Beasley, 28, had been linked to that case. Two months later, Haney said Beasley was neither a target nor charged; the federal case has already produced four guilty pleas tied to a betting scheme involving former NBA player Jontay Porter.
The federal news surfaced just before Beasley and the Detroit Pistons were expected to finalize a three-year, $42 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Detroit withdrew the offer, but Charania reported that other clubs remain interested. Beasley wrote on Instagram recently that he will decide on his next team “soon.”
A source close to the league inquiry said it is nearing completion. At least one regulated U.S. sportsbook flagged unusual action on Beasley’s statistical markets beginning in January 2024. The source cited a Jan. 31 matchup between the Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers, when heavy wagering on Beasley finishing with fewer than 2.5 rebounds moved the price from roughly +120 to -250. Beasley grabbed six rebounds, and the under bets lost.
The NBA has not provided a timeline for announcing its findings.
Source: ESPN
