The NBA is a very strict league with its on-court product and the image of its brand. While players live their private lives, there is a certain code of conduct they have to follow both on and off the court to maintain the league’s reputation.
As a result, any allegation or scandal is taken very seriously in the NBA, with investigations and rigorous fines, suspensions, and sometimes outright bans coming to a head. Unfortunately for the league, a top free agent this coming offseason has become the latest object of scrutiny.
Malik Beasley Under Investigation for Allegedly Betting on NBA Games
Typically, the NBA is rigorous with suspending players for foul play or behavior on the court. In recent years, players like Draymond Green have faced suspensions for becoming repeat offenders in unsportsmanlike plays.
But the league is equally intense with its investigation into off-court activities, including in the cases of Gilbert Arenas and Ja Morant. While the former’s run-in with firearms marked the sudden decline of his career in the league, Morant was handed a 25-game suspension.
However, one of the most serious allegations against a player or referee involves illegal betting. Toronto Raptors guard Jontay Porter was permanently banned from the league in April 2024 after investigations found that he had “limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of one or more bets,” according to the NBA. He had even bet on NBA games, including against the Raptors, though not in any games in which he played.
Now, it looks like the league could have another problem on its hands. Senior NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news, reporting: “The U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN. Serious development surrounding one of the top NBA free agents.”
BREAKING: The U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN. Serious development surrounding one of the top NBA free agents. pic.twitter.com/U0W1QONYva
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025
However, he immediately followed up with the first comments from Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney. The law practitioner was quick to retort, “An investigation is not a charge.”
Continuing, he added, “Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything.”
The situation is brutal for one of the best shooters in the league, who seemed to have finally found his niche with the Detroit Pistons last season. Leading the comeback for Detroit basketball, he was a key piece for their turnaround from a franchise with the most consecutive losses to a sixth-seeded playoff team.
In the process, he broke the record for most 3s in a season coming off the bench, as he averaged 16.3 points on a blistering 41.6% from distance, while attempting 9.3 3-pointers a night.
As a result, Charania confirmed ongoing conversations between the two sides, “Beasley and the Pistons were in serious talks on a new three-year, $42 million contract to bring the free agent sharpshooter back to Detroit, but now talks are on pause, sources said.”
According to Charania, the U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating Beasley for “allegedly gambling on NBA games, prop bets during the 2023-24 season.” He was on the Milwaukee Bucks that season.
Reporting for @SportsCenter — U.S. District Attorney’s office investigating Detroit guard Malik Beasley for allegedly gambling on NBA games, prop bets during the 2023-24 season: pic.twitter.com/RWirWOEHsi
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025
The league will hope for a quick resolution on the matter, but judging by its history, the allegations against Beasley are heavy and could lead to devastating consequences if the investigation finds them to be true.
