The excitement surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first NBA championship win, the draft’s aftermath, and the impending start of free agency have been overshadowed by news that Detroit Pistons’ three-point specialist Malik Beasley is under federal investigation for potential links to suspicious betting on NBA games.
Reports from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania and gambling industry reporter David Purdum indicate that “at least one prominent US sportsbook” observed unusually heavy betting on Beasley-related props starting in January 2024, during his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks.
A notable instance occurred on January 31, 2024, in a game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers. The odds for Beasley securing under 2.5 rebounds shifted significantly pre-game, moving from +120 to -250, with a lot of money betting he wouldn’t get at least three rebounds. Ultimately, Beasley collected six rebounds, resulting in losses for those bets.
Beasley had a standout season, marking a Pistons franchise record with 319 three-pointers, finishing just behind Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Beasley’s attorney told ESPN that no charges have been filed and it remains an investigation.
This development comes at a bad time for Beasley, who was reportedly on the verge of signing a three-year, $42m contract with Detroit as free agency opened. That agreement is now paused.
This investigation evokes memories of Jontay Porter’s case, who was banned from the NBA for life after manipulating his playing time and sharing confidential information with bettors to benefit from prop bets. Key games highlighted included one against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 26, 2024, where Porter left after four minutes, ending with stats that hit the unders. Another game against the Sacramento Kings saw him exit early claiming illness, again hitting under prop marks.
One accomplice’s $80,000 bet on Porter’s unders against the Kings to win $1.1m raised alarms, as typical maximum stakes ranged from $1,000 to $2,000.
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was also under federal investigation as part of the Porter probe. Suspicious betting on Rozier dates back to March 2023, when he was with the Charlotte Hornets. On March 23, Rozier played the first nine and a half minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans and didn’t return due to a reported foot issue, missing his over/under prop bets. Some bettors took to social media to voice suspicions, and certain sportsbooks removed Rozier props hours before the game.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com