Milwaukee Bucks player Malik Beasley finds himself at the center of a federal investigation concerning allegations of gambling on NBA games and prop bets. The U.S. district attorney’s office in Maryland is heading an investigation into suspicious betting activity. These patterns started coming into focus around January 2024 and are closely tied to Beasley’s shooting performance metrics.
Beasley, 28, had a productive season with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24. During his first full season, he averaged 16.3 points per game over 82 games. However, this scoring average is a little deceptive. It really highlights his hot start to the season with the Detroit Pistons, as opposed to his play with Milwaukee. This latest scandal has cast a heavy pall over the reputation of the league, even with the tight regulation of gambling activity.
According to reports, one U.S. sportsbook even registered a massive increase in betting action on Beasley’s stats. This atypical behavior raised red flags leading to the federal investigation into possible wrongdoing.
In recent news, Beasley was in serious negotiations with the Detroit Pistons on a rich three-year deal that would pay him $42 million. Those negotiations are now paused as the investigation continues.
It’s Beasley’s unconventional past that has captured people’s attention. In 2020, he had pleaded guilty to that felony threat of violence charge resulting in a 120-day sentence that he served after the 2020-21 season. The NBA responded by suspending him for 12 games in 2021 after he pleaded guilty. This incident added to the already looming concerns over his unethical behavior.
The current situation is bringing back memories of the league’s previous PR catastrophes. For instance, former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was issued a suspension for providing sensitive information to sports gamblers and betting on games himself. However, incidents like these have increased consciousness and pressure about player gambling activities.
In Beasley’s case, due process was a major focus according to Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney.
“Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything.” – Steve Haney
As events continue to unfold, the NBA and its players face mounting pressure to uphold integrity within the league, particularly as gambling becomes more prevalent in sports culture.
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