Free agent guard Malik Beasley is under federal gambling investigation in the Eastern District of New York. No charges filed yet; presumption of innocence remains paramount.

Malik Beasley Under Investigation by U.S. District Attorney for Gambling

The U.S. District Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York has launched a federal investigation concerning free-agent guard Malik Beasley, related to gambling, as confirmed by his lawyer, Steve Haney, to The Athletic on Sunday.

Haney stated that Beasley, who played for the Detroit Pistons last season, is a person of interest in the inquiry, though no formal allegations have been made, nor charges filed. "This is merely an investigation," Haney emphasized. "Currently, Malik has not been accused of any crime, and there are no formal accusations of misconduct. We hope everyone will grant him the same presumption of innocence that all individuals are entitled to."

Federal Investigation Launched Into Malik Beasley’s Alleged Gambling Ties 

Representatives for the Eastern District and Beasley's agent opted not to comment. A Pistons spokesperson acknowledged the federal investigation but referred any further queries to the NBA. "We are collaborating with the federal prosecutors on this investigation," stated NBA spokesman Mike Bass. ESPN originally reported the investigation.

Six individuals have been indicted by the Eastern District on charges of conspiracy to deceive a sports betting entity, implicated in a purported scheme involving Toronto Raptors guard Jontay Porter. Four of these individuals, including Porter, have pleaded guilty. Porter admitted to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

Porter was expelled from the NBA last April when the league found him guilty of betting on games and sharing privileged information with gamblers. Haney mentioned it remains unclear if Beasley's investigation is linked to the Porter case.

No Charges Filed Yet as Beasley Maintains Innocence Through Legal Counsel 

Beasley had a one-year, $6 million contract with Detroit for the past season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Following the postseason, NBA teams can start talks with their players approaching free agency. According to a league source who spoke to The Athletic last week, discussions between Beasley and the Pistons about his potential return have commenced.

In his past season with the Pistons, Beasley shone as their top 3-point shooter, achieving a career-high of 319 3-pointers on 41.6 percent accuracy, which bolstered spacing for Cade Cunningham. Throughout his sole season in Detroit, Beasley averaged 16.3 points with a shooting accuracy of 43 percent, alongside 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The only player who managed more 3-pointers in the 2024-25 season was Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards (320). Beasley has an average of 11.7 points per game over his nine-year career.