The NBA continues to investigate Malik Beasley following concerns about possible gambling violations while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. While Beasley was mentioned in earlier federal inquiries involving other players, he has not been charged and is not currently a target of federal prosecutors.
In 2024, at least one undisclosed sportsbook flagged unusual betting activity tied to Malik Beasley’s statistical lines. For example, significant wagers were placed on the under for his 2.5-rebound prop ahead of a January 31, 2024, game, shifting the odds from +120 to -250.
For context, this is significant line movement on a player prop. These usually move from +100 to -140, so to see that kind of shift on Beasley’s rebounds prop was noteworthy.
Additionally, it’s not common for so much money to be placed on an obscure prop like rebounds on a fringe player like Beasley, who ultimately recorded six rebounds, exceeding the line.
League sources confirmed that the NBA’s internal investigation is ongoing but nearing completion, with Beasley cooperating throughout the process.
The inquiry has already affected Beasley’s career. Prior to this investigation, he was close to finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, which has since been delayed. Now 28 years old, Beasley remains an unsigned free agent.
The Malik Beasley investigation highlights a growing issue for the NBA, one that was brought into sharp focus earlier in 2024 with the Jontay Porter case. Porter, a former Toronto Raptors forward, was banned for life. This was after the league determined he intentionally underperformed in games to impact his player props lines. That ruling marked one of the most severe disciplinary actions in NBA history and set a precedent for how the league approaches gambling violations.
Beasley’s situation, while still under review, illustrates how even the appearance of betting-related manipulation affects how the public views the integrity of games. Sportsbooks now play a central role in identifying suspicious activity, flagging irregular betting patterns that suggest possible inside influence.
Together, these cases highlight the challenge for the NBA: as legalized sports betting expands across the United States, the league must balance fan engagement with protections against players engaging in sports betting.
The NBA, along with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), has voiced support for placing limitations on certain player prop bets. These conversations have come about after concern that there is potential for players to affect the integrity of games with player prop betting. Another driving factor has been the harassment some players face when bettors lose money on their props.
Following the Malik Beasley and Jontay Porter cases, the league asked partner sportsbooks to restrict certain markets, specifically prop bets for players with minor roles. These wagers either weren’t offered at all, or they would only include overs while excluding unders. This step was designed to prevent fringe players from manipulating prop bets.
These early moves suggest that while a full ban on NBA player props remains unlikely in the near term, gradual restrictions are already shaping the betting landscape.
