Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York have opened an investigation into Detroit Pistons guard and pending free agent Malik Beasley for allegedly betting on NBA games and related prop wagers during the 2023-24 season, when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks. The probe began after at least one U.S. sportsbook reported an unusual surge in wagers on Beasley’s statistical props, including a January 31, 2024 game in which odds on his rebound total shifted sharply.
Beasley has not been charged, and his attorney Steve Haney said the nine-year veteran "is afforded the presumption of innocence." NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the league is cooperating with federal authorities. ESPN first reported the inquiry, which one outlet said has been running for roughly 18 months and involves potential wire-fraud allegations.
The timing complicates Detroit’s efforts to re-sign the shooting guard. Discussions on a three-year, $42 million contract were halted after the investigation surfaced. Beasley averaged 16.3 points, hit 41.6% of his three-point attempts and made 319 threes last season—second-most in the league—while completing a one-year, $6 million deal with the Pistons.
Separately, Beasley faces mounting financial pressure. Court filings show his former marketing agency, Hazan Sports Management, is suing for $2.25 million over an unpaid $650,000 advance, and The Detroit News reported additional judgments from a lender, barber, dentist and landlord that push his total outstanding liabilities above $8 million. The overlapping legal and financial issues cloud Beasley’s market as NBA free agency opens.
Malik Beasley should be riding high right now, after a season where he became just the fifth player in NBA history to make at least 300 shots from 3-point range in a single season.
