As the NBA Summer League is about to kick off, Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley remains at the center of a federal gambling investigation. According to ESPN, Beasley is the third NBA player to be investigated in recent years, following former Raptors center Jontay Porter, who was permanently banned for manipulating game data and conspiring in telecommunications fraud. It is reported that Beasley was negotiating a three-year, $42 million contract with the Pistons before the investigation.
Beasley's lawyer emphasized that he "has not been charged and should be presumed innocent," while criticizing the investigation's shadow for causing unfair damage to his image. The investigation, led by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, focuses on a gambling scheme involving Porter, where the gang attempted to defraud large lottery prizes by manipulating player data.
In January this year, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was also involved in a similar investigation, due to his suspicious performance in a game during his time with the Hornets. Also under federal scrutiny is Las Vegas gambler and poker player Sean Hennan, who is accused of conspiring with Porter and assisting in orchestrating gambling on games. The indictment shows that he conspired with NBA players via text messages to make brief appearances before leaving the game due to "injuries" to create betting opportunities.
The investigation is not limited to professional games. Earlier this year, U.S. authorities also investigated a gang suspected of manipulating college basketball game outcomes, involving at least ten universities including Temple University. Former team player Heather Miller has been interviewed by the NCAA, but no one has been charged yet.
Beasley is currently facing another pressure. According to the Detroit News, he is over $8 million in debt, including rent, dental bills, and fees for a barbershop service. In 2023, he signed an exclusive marketing agreement with Hazan Sports and received an advance of $650,000, but suddenly terminated the contract unilaterally in 2024, now facing a $2.5 million breach of contract lawsuit.
Although the NBA has not yet taken disciplinary action against Beasley, the league has stated that it will cooperate with the federal investigation. The Pistons will start the Summer League against the Knicks on July 11, while NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to respond this week to the public's concerns about the gambling scandal and related regulatory issues.
