Malik Beasley, guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, you’re off the hook! The Eastern District of New York has formally discontinued the investigation into his reported game-fixing on NBA games and prop bets for the 2023-24 season. Beasley’s representatives engaged in weeks of productive conversations with federal officials. Therefore, they made the rather bewildering decision to announce that he’s not a target in the continuing investigation.
The inquiry was begun when at least one of the major U.S. sportsbooks detected suspicious betting patterns. These trends reflected a burgeoning enthusiasm for Beasley’s all-around stat sheet, starting in January 2024. This unprecedented increase in betting activity raised red flags. The announcement immediately attracted a ton of attention — particularly for the scheduled game on January 31, 2024 between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers. In this instance, a flurry of betting activity on the under pushed Beasley to a much juicier line with more favorable odds for the fewer than 2.5 rebounds. The line moved from roughly +120 to nearly -250.
From there, Beasley’s representatives—including his attorney Haney—participated in several lengthy discussions with officials from the Eastern District of New York. Following these discussions, Haney stated,
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation.”
Throughout the 2023-24 season, Beasley showcased his skills on the court, averaging 11.3 points in 79 games for the Bucks and achieving a career-high 77 starts. This performance has cemented him as an incredibly underrated positive force in the league. ESPN’s Bobby Marks Beasley’s max re-signing number with the Pistons is $7.2 million dollars.
Beasley’s record is a mixed bag. In 2020, he was convicted of a felony for making threats of violence, which resulted in a 120-day sentence served in jail after the 2020-21 season and a 12-game suspension from the NBA. Despite his history described above, he is not being investigated for any illegal activity at this time in this ongoing inquiry. It’s critical to make clear this distinction.
The NBA has been cracking down on gambling-related activities in the wake of other player’s actions. Jontay Porter received a ban following an investigation. He released insider information to gamblers and in some cases placed bets on games himself. Further, another NBA player, Terry Rozier, was recently said to be under federal investigation for similar activities related to suspicious betting patterns.
The NFL has been unwavering in their pledge to protect the integrity of the game and their players. NBA commissioner Mike Bass first noted that the league has fully cooperated with federal prosecutors throughout these investigations. He stated,
“We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation.”
A representative for the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) lambasted the effects of gambling. The counter argument focused on the positive impact it has on player behavior and performance. They remarked,
“NBA players compete at the highest level with the utmost integrity and are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of player harassment, both online and in person.”
Regardless, Beasley is all in on his new opportunity to prove himself with the Bucks. The end of this investigation removes the cloud of doubt hanging over him, suggesting he played even a remote role in any potential gambling.
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