Malik Beasley Agrees to Plead Guilty in Federal Gambling Case

Former NBA guard Malik Beasley has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges connected to an alleged scheme involving the manipulation of professional basketball performances, his attorney told The Athletic and ESPN on Tuesday. Beasley is scheduled to enter his plea on December 9 in New York following a federal indictment issued in June.

Prosecutors accused Beasley and former NBA veteran Ed Davis of conspiring to manipulate Beasley's statistical performance in four games during the 2023-24 season. Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks at the time, while Davis was no longer in the league, according to the allegations outlined in the case.

Investigators alleged that financial debt motivated the scheme. Reports cited in the case indicated that Beasley owed millions of dollars in gambling-related debt and received a loan from Davis before the two allegedly worked with three other individuals to manipulate game outcomes for financial gain.

One alleged incident involved a Milwaukee Bucks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2023-24 campaign. Beasley scored three points, substantially below his season average of 11.3 points per game. Prosecutors also accused him of manipulating his performance in a game against the Charlotte Hornets during the same season.

The indictment named six men in connection with the alleged scheme. Prosecutors alleged that Davis played a leading role in coordinating the operation, while Beasley faced federal charges for his alleged participation.

Beasley's legal troubles have also affected his professional basketball career. He has not played in the NBA since the 2024-25 season, when he recorded a career-best 16.3 points per game for the Detroit Pistons and finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year race.

Following that season, Beasley was expected to enter free agency after a strong campaign. However, the federal investigation and a separate NBA investigation disrupted his offseason, and he ultimately remained unsigned.

The case places Beasley among NBA players facing criminal consequences related to gambling schemes. Jontay Porter previously pleaded guilty in July 2024 in a separate but similar case involving basketball-related gambling activities.

The NBA banned Porter for life in 2024 after the allegations against him came to light. Whether Beasley will face a comparable disciplinary penalty remains unclear as he prepares to enter his guilty plea in federal court on December 9.