Federal authorities are investigating suspicious sports betting patterns related to prop bets involving Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday.
The alleged suspicious behavior occurred during the 2023-24 NBA season, when Beasley played his only season with the Milwaukee Bucks. At least one US sportsbook reported unusual betting interest in Beasley's statistics, a source told ESPN's David Purdum.
The source pointed to one game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 31, 2024, when the odds on Beasley getting less than 2.5 rebounds moved significantly right before the game, from +120 to -250. Beasley finished with six rebounds.
An ongoing case
Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, urged caution.
“An investigation is not a charge. Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the US Constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything.”
Beasley is not suspected of placing any bets. NBA players are prohibited from betting on the NBA.
Beasley averaged 11.3 points per game and shot 41.3% from three that season while making a career-high 77 starts. He averaged 3.7 rebounds a game.
X user @kirkevans0, also noted the strange odds movement before the Jan. 31 game against the Trail Blazers. He posted that Beasley under 2.5 rebounds opened at +118 but later closed at -256 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Interestingly, after his six-rebound game, Beasley recorded seven rebounds in his next game, which was his highest amount from Nov. 30 until the end of the season.
Haney also told ABC News on Sunday that he had communicated with prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York, which is leading the investigation. NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said the league is aware of the probe.
“We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation."
Extension in jeopardy
The Pistons confirmed Sunday that they were aware of the investigation. The team had reportedly been prepared to offer Beasley, who was a key piece of their playoff team during the most recent season, a three-year, $42 million extension but have put that on hold as the probe continues.
In April 2024, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a lifetime ban to ex-Toronto Raptors Center Jontay Porter after he was found guilty of conspiring with known sports bettors and limiting his availability to help cash the under on his prop bets.
Beasley finished second to Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards in made threes last season with the Pistons. He became just the third player in league history to make at least 300 treys on better than 40% shooting in a season and also set a league record for most threes made off the bench in a season.
The Pistons selected Tennessee sharpshooting guard Chaz Lanier in the second round of last week’s NBA Draft, potentially in preparation for life after Beasley. They can also make offers to free agents when the window opens on Monday.