NBA Investigating Malik Beasley Over Sports Betting Concerns

• The NBA reported to ESPN that free-agent Malik Beasley is being investigated for sports betting
• The NBA will conduct its own investigation of the former Detroit Piston
• Beasley was under federal investigation for gambling on NBA, prop bets, but his attorney reported he was no longer a federal target

Former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley may no longer be the target of a federal sports betting investigation, but the NBA recently reported it is conducting its own investigation of the current free agent.

The NBA recently reported to ESPN it has opened its own investigation on Beasley over sports betting concerns. Beasley had been the target of a federal investigation related to sports betting, but attorneys for Beasley reported the former Detroit Piston is no longer being considered as a person of interest by the Eastern District of New York.

According to ESPN’s report, the NBA’s investigation stems from the same player prop issues from Beasley’s time with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-2024 NBA season.

Beasley Under Investigation for Months

According to ESPN, attorneys for Beasley said he is fully cooperating with the NBA’s investigation.

Beasley, 28, was under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eastern District of New York. A major U.S. sportsbook identified unusual betting activity surrounding Beasley’s statistics beginning January 2024.

CBS Sports provided more information, identifying the game in question as a Jan. 31, 2024 matchup between the Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers. Odds on Beasley hitting his under for rebounds, which was set at 2.5 rebounds, went from nearly +120 to around -250 prior to the game.

Despite the strong movement to the under, Beasley recorded six rebounds for the game.

Beasley remains as a free agent after finishing second in the 2024-2025 NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Beasley averaged 16.3 points per game last season and set the Pistons’ franchise record for three pointers with 319.

Athletes Under Investigation for Sports Betting

Beasley was the third NBA player in the last year to be subjected to an investigation for gambling.

Former Toronto Raptors backup center Jontay Porter amassed large gambling debts and was leaving games early to help clear those dues, according to the federal government. Several individuals pressured Porter to remove himself from two NBA games to erase large gambling debts he had accrued.

The NBA banned Porter from the league in 2024 when he was found to have placed several bets on NBA games, several bets against the Toronto Raptors while on the team roster, and actively removing himself from games so “under” bets placed by individuals he owed money to could win.

Earlier this year, veteran NBA guard Terry Rozier, who is currently a member of the Miami Heat, was announced to be under federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for potentially manipulating a 2023 game performance as part of an illegal sports betting ring.

The game being investigated by federal authorities took place on March 23, 2023, when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier played less than 10 minutes in the game after leaving with what was described as a foot injury. Rozier averaged more than 35 minutes a game that season.

Rozier did not play another game for the Hornets that season.

The Hornets recently had to scrub a planned “sports betting theme” night for the upcoming season. The event was planned for a March 17 matchup vs. the Miami Heat, which is Rozier’s current team.