The National Basketball Association (NBA) has launched an investigation into player Malik Beasley concerning allegations of gambling, a situation that emerged from a broader federal inquiry into irregular betting patterns, particularly related to prop bets. Beasley`s legal representatives previously stated he is no longer considered a “target” of the federal investigation; however, he has not yet been fully cleared as a “subject” by the U.S. Attorney`s Office for the Eastern District of New York. This ongoing scrutiny, both from federal authorities and the league itself, is reportedly hindering Beasley`s ability to finalize a new contract in free agency.
The focus of these investigations is unusual activity surrounding prop bets placed on Beasley`s rebounding performance during a January 2024 game, at a time when he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. A sportsbook noted a significant surge in betting on Beasley achieving under 2.5 rebounds for that specific game. Despite this unusual betting volume, Beasley recorded six rebounds, meaning those particular bets ultimately lost. Nevertheless, the activity was notable enough to trigger red flags within the betting industry.
During the course of these inquiries, Malik Beasley`s financial challenges and existing lawsuits for unpaid debts have come to light, leading many to connect these issues with the gambling probe. A key objective for the league is to determine if Beasley had any direct contact with individuals who placed these suspicious bets, a scenario similar to what led to Jontay Porter`s ban from the NBA. Beasley is reportedly hopeful that his name will be cleared before the start of the 2025-26 season, allowing him to pursue free agency without impediment. A previously discussed three-year, $42 million deal to return to the Pistons was reportedly scuttled following the revelation of the investigation.
