NBA Player Malik Beasley Faces Federal Charges Over Sports Gambling and Game Manipulation

Malik Beasley, a 29-year-old NBA guard, is facing serious federal charges related to a sports gambling scandal that includes allegations of game manipulation. According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, U.S. authorities have been investigating Beasley's involvement in unusual betting activities connected to the 2023/24 NBA season, during which he played for the Milwaukee Bucks. The investigation has been ongoing for over a year, with at least one major betting company flagging suspicious prop bets on Beasley's performance in a game against Portland.

Beasley has not played in the 2025/26 season due to the investigation. Last summer, the Detroit Pistons had planned to offer him a lucrative three-year contract worth $42 million, but the deal was withdrawn after the team was informed about the probe. Professionally, Beasley was coming off one of his best seasons, averaging 16.3 points per game and making 300 three-pointers, a feat achieved by only five players in NBA history. He also finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Beasley's case is not isolated; other NBA players such as Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups have also been linked to separate gambling investigations. Rozier has denied the charges, with his trial scheduled for February 2027. The charges against Beasley have reignited concerns about the relationship between professional basketball and sports gambling.

U.S. authorities are coordinating with Beasley's representatives for his voluntary extradition this week. Full details of the charges have not yet been released, and the investigation continues.