NBA Player Malik Beasley Faces Guilty Plea in Gambling Scandal
NBA player Malik Beasley intends to plead guilty to charges related to illegal sports gambling on December 9. His attorney revealed this development to multiple media outlets. Beasley is accused of manipulating his performance in certain 2024 games to benefit sports bettors and alleviate his debts.
Beasley initially pleaded not guilty in July at a New York federal court. He is among several notable figures involved in a substantial federal gambling investigation. Beasley, 29, and sports agent Paolo Zamorano, who also pleaded not guilty, were part of a group of six individuals charged in an indictment made public last summer. The gambling scandal has led to over three dozen arrests.
According to the indictment, Beasley is accused of altering or attempting to alter his performance in at least four games while with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024. He reportedly underperformed or overperformed in ways that aligned with bookmakers’ predictions. In return, bettors allegedly bribed him, and his debts to Ed Davis, a former teammate, were either reduced or canceled.
Beasley allegedly borrowed money from Davis after incurring millions in gambling losses. He has faced financial challenges, including disputes with a Detroit landlord, a Milwaukee barber, and a Minnesota dentist. A 2025 lawsuit from a sports marketing agency resulted in a $1 million default judgment against him.
Charges against Beasley and others include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Beasley has been absent from the NBA since concluding the 2024-25 season with the Detroit Pistons. He was on a one-year contract worth $6 million and averaged 16 points per game, scoring 20 in his final playoff game against the New York Knicks.
Last year’s gambling scandal affected multiple NBA figures, including Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones. Jones was the first to plead guilty, admitting involvement in defrauding sports betting companies by providing insider information. In one instance, Jones informed a close associate that a key Los Angeles Lakers player, rumored to be LeBron James, would not participate in a February 9, 2023, game due to an undisclosed ankle injury. This insider info became a factor in the legal proceedings.
Jones also reportedly shared information about another Lakers player, speculated to be Anthony Davis, regarding an injury affecting his performance. Contrary to expectations, the player performed well, contributing to a Lakers victory, authorities said.
Terry Rozier is charged with deliberately removing himself from a game to enable bettors to profit from his “under” prop bets. Jontay Porter is currently serving a prison sentence for illegal sports gambling activities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.