Report: Pistons’ Beasley Investigated for Gambling On League Games
NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office regarding gambling accusations linked to NBA games, as reported by the media today.
Inquiry Into Betting Accusations
Beasley’s attorney informed the Associated Press that no charges have been made so far. Beasley is under investigation for gambling associated with league games and prop bets in the 2023-2024 season while he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Last season, he was with the Detroit Pistons, and he was allegedly nearing a new three-year deal with the squad. The shooting guard agreed to a one-year contract with the Pistons last year, concluded the season with an average of 16.3 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and aimed to secure a multi-year contract.
Beasley assisted the Pistons in reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Shams Charania from ESPN reported that negotiations for the contracts are currently halted.
Sentencing of Jontay Porter
The Beasley inquiry follows just more than a year after Jontay Porter, previously with the Toronto Raptors, received a lifetime ban from the league for breaching gambling regulations.
"Investigations revealed Porter manipulated his performance in games, along with co-conspirators, to influence betting outcomes, including faking injuries to exit games early. Court documents revealed text messages where Porter talked about his intention to bench himself to manipulate prop bets.
In July 2024, Porter admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, acknowledging his involvement in the scheme to settle gambling debts.
NBA Matches and Proposition Wagers
Porter, who has received a lifetime ban from the NBA, is facing a potential prison sentence. Federal prosecutors have suggested a prison term of 41-51 months. His sentencing hearing was initially scheduled for last May, but it was delayed until December.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was under investigation by federal officials for irregular betting behaviors linked to a 2023 game he participated in while playing for the Charlotte Hornets. However, Rozier has not faced any charges or received any penalties from the NBA.
