Malik Beasley under federal investigation for gambling on NBA games: Report

Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is under federal investigation for alleged involvement in gambling activity related to NBA games and player prop bets, according to an ESPN report on Sunday. The allegations trace back to the 2023–24 season when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks.

According to the report, a US sportsbook flagged a significant surge in betting on Beasley’s individual stats - such as rebounds per game - beginning around January 2024. This unusual pattern prompted federal scrutiny.

Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, stressed that his client has not been charged. "An investigation is not a charge," Haney told ESPN. "Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the US Constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything."


Beasley, 28, played all 82 games for the Pistons this past season, averaging 16.3 points and shooting 41.6% from three. A pending free agent, he was reportedly in talks for a three-year, $42 million, contract which has been put on hold due to the investigation.

The NBA acknowledged the situation, with league spokesperson Mike Bass stating, "We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation."

Drafted 19th overall by Denver in 2016, Beasley has played for six NBA teams, including the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Jazz, Lakers, Bucks, and Pistons. His career has included prior off-court issues: in 2021, he served 78 days in jail after pleading guilty to a felony charge of threats of violence, for which he received a 12-game suspension.