Former NBA guard Malik Beasley has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges tied to an illegal sports gambling scheme. His attorney confirmed the news to The Athletic and ESPN on Tuesday, a bombshell development that has rocked the league. Beasley, who was arrested earlier this summer, is set to formally enter his plea on December 9 in Brooklyn. This isn’t just about one player; it shines a brutal light on the deep-seated issues facing professional sports.
The Play-Rigging Scheme That Cost Him Everything
Beasley’s legal troubles began back in June when he was indicted on federal charges, right alongside ex-NBA veteran Ed Davis. The two, who once shared the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves, are accused of working together to manipulate Beasley’s performance in four games during the 2023-24 season. At the time, Beasley was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, while Davis was out of the league. So, what pushed them to this? Beasley reportedly owed millions in gambling debt. Davis reportedly loaned him money, and to pay off that crushing debt, they allegedly hatched a scheme. They supposedly teamed up with three other individuals to place tens of thousands of dollars on games where Beasley was playing. Picture this: they bet big on a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers that season. Beasley, who averaged 11.3 points per contest that year, ended up scoring just three points in that specific game. Three points! He’s also accused of rigging another game against the Charlotte Hornets in a similar fashion during the same season. Prosecutors say Davis was the mastermind, leading the charge in this shocking six-man indictment.
A Lost Payday and a Lifetime Ban on the Horizon?
Beasley hasn’t suited up in the league since the 2024-25 season, which is just gut-wrenching considering it was one of his career-best runs. He put up 16.3 points per game, his highest output in years, and even finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year race while with the Detroit Pistons. A massive payday was waiting for him after that season, right? But then, everything came crashing down. His free agency was completely derailed by not one, but *two* investigations: a federal gambling probe and an NBA investigation. He went unsigned and hasn’t played since. This isn’t the first time the league has dealt with this kind of scandal. Beasley is now the second active NBA player to plead guilty to gambling charges, following Jontay Porter, who entered his plea in July 2024. Porter was then banned for life by the NBA in 2024 for a “separate but similar scheme.” The big question now, the one hanging over the entire league, is if Beasley will face the same ultimate fate. Will he ever play in the NBA again, or is his career over for good? The wait until December 9 is going to feel like an eternity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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