NBA in Spotlight Again as Feds Investigate Malik Beasley

It appears the NBA is facing its third gambling scandal in less than two years. 

According to an ESPN report from Shams Charania, federal authorities in New York are investigating NBA guard Malik Beasely. The focus is on the 2023-24 season, during which he played as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA is cooperating with authorities, along with at least one US online sportsbook operator.

Details remain slim, but Charania confirmed one instance where the unnamed operator began detecting unusual betting patterns around prop bets involving Beasley. One instance came in June when a flood of action led to a massive odds shift for the guard to record less than 2.5 rebounds. He ended up registering six, easily covering the total and leading to the suspicious bets losing. However, the odd shift was enough to catch the interest of the operator.

While no charges have been filed, the news comes as a blow to the NBA. In less than two years they have seen Jontay Porter convicted of a bet-fixing scheme, and an investigation opened into veteran star Terry Rozier. 

Beasley was in negotiations to sign a contract to return to the Pistons, but reports suggest those have now been put on hold. He is considered to be one of the top free agents available this summer.

Investigation May Hit NBA Harder

The NBA made some massive headlines after the Jontay Porter scandal was uncovered. It was a bad look for sports betting and the league, but the damage was somewhat limited by Porter’s ability. The big man was a bench player who averaged just 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds over his 37-game career. Given that he was also playing for a struggling Toronto team, the impact of the scandal seemed to be limited.

The Rozier investigation turned some more heads, but charges have yet to be filed almost six months later. While the investigation centers on his time as the Hornets' top player, the incidents happened in meaningless games for a team that won just 19 games. 

Beasley’s investigation could have a far bigger impact, given that it came while a member of a very good Bucks team. He was starting alongside stars like Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo and playing a crucial role during an important time of the season. This means the impact of a potential scandal could capture more headlines and likely affect a greater number of bettors than the previous two scandals.