NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office related to gambling claims involving NBA games, as reported by media today.
Beasley’s attorney informed the Associated Press that there are currently no charges filed. Beasley is under investigation for gambling related to league games and prop bets during the 2023-2024 season while he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Last season he played for the Detroit Pistons, and he was said to be nearing a new three-year deal with the team. The shooting guard agreed to a one-year contract with the Pistons last year, concluded the season with an average of 16.3 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and aimed to secure a multi-year contract.
Beasley assisted the Pistons in reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2019. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that negotiations on those contracts have been halted.
The Beasley inquiry occurs a little more than a year after Jontay Porter, previously with the Toronto Raptors, was indefinitely banned from the league for breaching gambling regulations.
"Investigations revealed Porter manipulated his performance in games, along with co-conspirators, to influence betting outcomes, including faking injuries to exit games early. Court documents revealed text messages where Porter talked about his intention to bench himself to manipulate prop bets.
In July 2024, Porter confessed to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, acknowledging his involvement in the plan to settle gambling debts.
Porter, who has been permanently banned by the NBA, faces a potential prison sentence. Federal prosecutors have suggested a prison term of 41-51 months. His sentencing hearing was initially scheduled for last May, but it was postponed to December.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Terry Rozier, formerly with the Charlotte Hornets and now with the Miami Heat, was under investigation by federal authorities for strange betting patterns related to a 2023 game he participated in, although Rozier has not faced any charges or received any penalties from the NBA.
