Malik Beasley had a fine year for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24, but it appears he was possibly engaging in some sneaky - and illegal - activities. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the U.S. District Attorney is investigating Beasley, who spent last season with the Detroit Pistons, for allegations of gambling on NBA games during his time with the Bucks.
Former Milwaukee Buck may have just thrown his career away
Right off the bat, it's unclear exactly what type of bets Beasley was making. For all we know, he was taking his own "over" on his props every single night and using it as motivation. However, in a much bleaker - and realistic - world, he could have been taking his own "under" and purposely throwing games or sequences with his play.
It wouldn't be the first time the league has seen this. About this time last year, former Toronto Raptor and Wisconsin Herd alum Jontay Porter was under investigation for similar accusations. Porter pled guilty after allegedly throwing games by tipping off bettors about his health, such as an "illness" that would cause him to exit a game early.
Porter was banned from the NBA for life, and a similar fate could be on the horizon for Malik Beasley. It's a horrible look for Beasley, who was allegedly in talks with the Pistons to sign a three-year deal worth $42 million after a strong season. Now, not only will he not be getting that, but he may have also played his last NBA game altogether.
In all fairness, if these allegations are true, they weren't exactly obvious. While he had a few bad plays here and there, he was mostly solid, putting together one of his most productive seasons. However, in light of these events, it would certainly be interesting to go back and watch all of the games from that season with a microscope on Malik Beasley from start to finish.
The investigation is clearly still in the early stages, so more info will surface in time. The results could be a gut-punch for Milwaukee Bucks fans. Just like Jontay Porter, Beasley should be punished to the fullest extent if his scheme gets uncovered and is proven legitimate.
It's been a rough few years for the Milwaukee Bucks. The devastating injuries were enough to battle, but apparently, they also had to overcome some alleged in-house betting.
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