NBA guard Malik Beasley is no longer being investigated for illegal gambling-related offenses, according to a report.
ESPN reported in June that Beasley was under investigation after a sportsbook detected unusual betting activity on his player props when he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. One event that was flagged was a 2024 game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers, in which a large number of bets were placed on Beasley having under 2.5 rebounds. Beasley grabbed six boards, meaning the bets did not cash.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday that Beasley is now “no longer a target” of the investigation from the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, citing Beasley’s lawyers as sources.
The news that Beasley was under investigation came as the guard was a free agent, with his contract with the Detroit Pistons having expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. Before that news came out, he was reportedly in talks with the Pistons about a three-year, $42 million contract.
No longer a subject of the probe, Beasley – who averaged 16 points per game last season and finished second in voting for the Sixth Man of the Year award – may be free to sign a new contract, either with the Pistons or elsewhere. However, the busiest period of NBA free agency has already passed, and fewer teams have the cap space or roster spots to add a veteran, which may reduce Beasley’s ability to receive a comparable contract.
Other NBA betting investigations
The now-dropped probe into Beasley followed other high-profile investigations into NBA players. Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA for life after he was found to have “violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” He ultimately pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Federal prosecutors also launched an investigation into Terry Rozier this year over unusual betting activity related to a 2023 game. Rozier has not been charged with a crime or suspended.
