Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted on federal charges as part of a widening gambling investigation. Prosecutors allege that Beasley, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024, agreed to tailor his performance based on prop bet trends.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. stated that Beasley and others "turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation," adding that such schemes "erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public." The indictment, unsealed in Brooklyn, names six individuals and involves hundreds of thousands of dollars. Davis, who has not played in the NBA since 2022, is accused of placing bets on Beasley's performance.
This case is part of a broader federal investigation that has led to the arrest of over 30 individuals, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures. In April, former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in schemes to defraud sportsbooks and deceive poker players, using "insider information" from his NBA relationships.
Beasley last played for the Detroit Pistons in the 2024-25 season, averaging 16 points per game. He is recognized for his 3-point shooting but has not played in the NBA since the investigation began, though he played briefly in Puerto Rico earlier this year. Beasley and Davis were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-21 season.
Davis had a 12-year NBA career primarily as a backup, earning approximately $48 million. The investigation has also implicated other prominent basketball figures. Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, formerly the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was charged last year with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to organized crime families, allegedly defrauding gamblers out of at least $7 million. Billups has pleaded not guilty.
Terry Rozier, who was with the Miami Heat in 2025 when charged, is accused of conspiring with friends to influence bets on his performance during a 2023 game while he played for the Charlotte Hornets. He has also pleaded not guilty.