NBA Shooter Malik Beasley Pleads Guilty in Federal Gambling Scheme
The 29-year-old former Detroit Pistons star will enter a guilty plea on December 9 regarding alleged manipulation of player props during his Milwaukee Bucks tenure.
By Diego Mendoza ·
A three-year contract worth $42 million has evaporated for NBA veteran Malik Beasley, leaving the 29-year-old shooter to face a federal gambling case and a new method of earning income. Beasley, who recently appeared on TikTok Live to sell autographed game-worn jerseys, has agreed to enter a guilty plea in a federal investigation that alleges he manipulated his performance to assist associates with wagers on player props.
Beasley’s career trajectory shifted sharply after a standout 2024-25 season with the Detroit Pistons. During that campaign, he averaged 16.3 points per game and set an NBA record by making 319 three-pointers. He also finished second in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year. Based on those statistics, the Detroit organization reportedly offered him a three-year deal valued at $42 million. However, the potential contract fell through as the federal investigation into his gambling activities intensified. Since the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Beasley has not played in the NBA.
Prosecutors assert that Beasley accumulated substantial gambling debt before participating in a scheme while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024. The alleged plan involved Beasley adjusting his performance levels to influence the outcome of bets placed on his statistical lines. For instance, if a wager was placed on him scoring fewer than a specific number of points, he would intentionally underperform. Conversely, he would play above his usual level if the bet favored higher output. Beasley initially entered a not guilty plea but has since accepted a plea deal following the release of game footage that appeared to corroborate the allegations.
The hearing for the plea is scheduled for December 9. While the final sentence remains undetermined, the possibility of a prison term is a realistic outcome under the current charges. Beasley has not publicly commented on the details of the plea agreement since the initial announcement.
The financial implications of the case are stark when compared to Beasley's past earnings. He reportedly earned nearly $60 million during his professional basketball career. In recent weeks, he has moved away from traditional post-retirement monetization methods in favor of live social media sales. During one such session, Beasley was heard expressing excitement over a transaction involving $30, a sum he described as equivalent to "two galaxies" in the specific dialect of the platform.
The case highlights the intersection of professional sports performance and the sports betting industry. Prosecutors maintain that Beasley’s actions were driven by existing debt obligations. The federal case proceeds on the premise that his on-court behavior was directly tied to off-court financial wagers, a practice that has become a subject of scrutiny in the NBA.
Beasley’s legal team has not provided additional details regarding the specific terms of the plea deal beyond the scheduled hearing date. The case is currently under the jurisdiction of federal prosecutors who are handling the investigation into the player prop betting scheme.
