NBA Star Malik Beasley Under Investigation for Gambling Allegations

Strategic Insights -

NBA free agent Malik Beasley is being investigated by the U.S. District Attorney's office regarding allegations tied to league games, a source close to the matter revealed. The investigation comes 14 months after the NBA banned Toronto's Jontay Porter, who was linked to a prop bet investigation. This past season, Terry Rozier was under investigation for unusual betting patterns surrounding him in a March 2023 game, although he has not been charged or sanctioned by the league.

Key Takeaways:

  • Malik Beasley, an NBA free agent, is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney's office regarding allegations tied to league games.
  • The investigation is tied to Beasley's performance and potential prop bets, where players give information about their health status to bettors.
  • A person familiar with the situation spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, stating that the NBA is cooperating with federal prosecutors.
  • Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, said there have been no charges against Malik and that the investigation is just in its early stages.
  • The NBA has previously banned Jontay Porter, a Toronto player, after he was linked to a prop bet investigation and pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud in 2023.
  • Terry Rozier, now with the Miami Heat, was under investigation for unusual betting patterns surrounding him in a March 2023 game but has not been charged or sanctioned.
  • The current investigation into Beasley comes after the league learned from licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter's performance.
  • Beasley signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Pistons last year for $6 million and helped the team make the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
  • He has averaged 16.3 points last season and has averaged 11.7 points over his career with several different teams.

Statistics:

  • Malik Beasley has made a franchise-record 319 3-pointers in the regular season.
  • He helped Detroit end an NBA-record 15-game postseason losing streak in the first round against the New York Knicks.
  • Beasley has averaged 11.7 points over his career, with a career-high 19.6 points per game in the 2020-21 season with the Timberwolves.
  • He was drafted by the Nuggets with the 19th overall pick in 2016.

Sources:

  • Associated Press (AP)
  • Mike Bass, NBA spokesman
  • ESPN
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • Associated Press (AP)