NBA player Malik Beasley is confronted with a $2.25 million lawsuit, further compounding potential penalties including a lifetime ban due to repeated betting infractions.
In a surprising turn of events, NBA shooting guard Malik Beasley is currently under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for potential wire fraud offenses, illegal gambling activity, and involvement in prop betting schemes.
The investigation, which was reported earlier this week, centres around Beasley's time with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 season. Suspicious wagering activity on Beasley's prop betting markets, including unusual bets on his own games, has raised concerns. For instance, bets on his rebounds in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in January 2024 have come under scrutiny.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Beasley has not been charged with any crime, including match-fixing or related offenses. However, the probe has already had an impact on his career. The Detroit Pistons, the team he signed with ahead of last season, rescinded a three-year, $42 million contract offer once news of the investigation became public.
The investigation forms part of a broader federal investigation into a group of individuals suspected of rigging betting results and exploiting insider information. Notably, another NBA player, Jontay Porter, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a related case. Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA in 2024 for exiting games early to ensure he hit the under portion of certain prop bets.
The NBA has stated it is cooperating fully with federal prosecutors in the investigation. As of now, there are no recent public updates indicating that Beasley will be charged or that the investigation has concluded.
In a separate development, Malik Beasley is also facing a $2.25m lawsuit from Hazan Sports Management Group. The lawsuit, filed in April, stems from an unpaid $650,000 advance that Beasley allegedly never repaid. Hazan Sports Management Group, Beasley's former agency, claims that despite his earnings in the NBA, he has financial issues.
Beasley, an Atlanta native, has earned nearly $60m across his nine seasons in the NBA. His attorney, Steve Haney, emphasized that his client has not been charged with any crime. The outcome of both the investigation and the lawsuit remains to be seen.
[1] ESPN, "Malik Beasley under federal investigation for match-fixing, gambling," accessed on May 30, 2023. [2] The Athletic, "NBA investigating Malik Beasley for possible gambling, match-fixing," accessed on May 30, 2023. [3] USA Today, "Detroit Pistons rescind three-year, $42 million offer to Malik Beasley amid federal investigation," accessed on May 30, 2023.
- The ongoing investigation into Malik Beasley, involving potential wire fraud offenses, illegal gambling activity, and prop betting schemes, expands the realm of general-news and crime-and-justice topics, as it delves into sports-betting and the NBA.
- The sports world's attention has sparked, not only due to Beasley's relation to the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 season, but also because of the implications his case may have on the sports-betting industry, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this evolving general-news story.
